Makurdi, Nigeria – On Monday, the Benue State House of Assembly repealed the controversial life pension law for former governors and their deputies. The law, initially passed by the 9th Assembly in May 2023, aimed to provide lifelong maintenance to ex-governors and their deputies.
The repealed pension bill extended benefits to former governors George Akume, Gabriel Suswam, Samuel Ortom, and ex-deputy governors Steven Lawani and Engr. Benson Abounu. However, the current 10th Assembly annulled the law, citing it as being passed without good faith and deeming it anti-people.
During the plenary session, lawmakers expressed unanimous support for the repeal, emphasizing the law’s inconsistency with the interests of the public. Speaker Aondona Dajoh ruled in favor of the unanimous resolution to repeal the “Bill for a law to repeal provision for the maintenance of former elected governors of the state and their deputies and for other matters connected thereto 2024.”
The original bill, presented by the former chairman of the House Committee on Business and Rules, Hon. Geoffrey Agbatse, and passed under the leadership of then-Speaker Engr. Titus Uba, stipulated generous pensions and allowances. It included monthly stipends equivalent to the salaries of the serving governor and deputy governor, to be charged to the state’s consolidated revenue funds. Additionally, the bill provided for a maintenance allowance of N25,000,000 for former governors and N15,000,000 for former deputy governors every four years.
The repeal marks a significant shift in the state’s legislative approach to benefits for former elected officials, aiming to align more closely with public sentiment and fiscal responsibility.
