THE CENTRE for Human and Socio-Economic Rights (CHSR) has applauded the Abia House of Assembly for passing a bill to revoke pension for former governors and deputies in the state.
The President of CHSR, Mr Alex Omotehinse gave the commendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos.
He urged other state legislatures to copy the Abia example and make laws that would enhance the progress of their respective states.
Omotehinse particularly called on the Lagos State House of Assembly to revisit similar bill before it, and ensure expeditious passage.
According to him, the bill, if passed in Lagos, would reduce cost of governance and redirect resources towards development.
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Omotehinse recalled that the CHSR, in 2021, started the advocacy for the repeal of the Lagos State ex-governor and deputies pension law of the state.
“The Lagos State House of Assembly should take the bull by the horns and revisit the law in the state to fully abolish it and convert the resources for a more reasonable project in the state.
“This has been the CHSR’s position since 2020 when we submitted our position letter to the Assembly sometime in 2020.
“We are surprised that the Lagos Assembly has refused to act until now. We believe they (the lawmakers) will be left with no other option, but follow suit with the precedent that has just been laid by the Abia State House of Assembly,” he said.
He said that the advocacy group believed that, if achieved, such fund would be diverted for people-oriented projects in the state.
NAN reports that Abia Assembly had on Tuesday passed the bill titled “A Bill (H.A.B 11:) for a Law to Revoke The Abia State Governors and Deputy Governors Pensions Law No 4 of 2001 and for other Matters connected therewith.”
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If the bill is assented to by the state governor, former governors of the stare and their deputies will no longer enjoy pension benefits.
The Lagos Assembly had on May 25, 2021 passed into the second reading a bill seeking to repeal the law, which grants pension and other emoluments to former governors and deputies.
The House Committee on Establishment, Training and Pension, in the amendment bill on the state Pension Law for former governors and other political office holders, recommended reduction of their benefits and emoluments by 50 per cent. (NAN)
