President of the Nigerian Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki has urged States to stop pension payment to former Governors and their Deputies holding elective or appointive positions in the country.
He said other States should emulate Kwara state that has taken the lead through its House of Assembly that recently passed the bill stopping payment of such pensions.
Saraki, who praised the Kwara State Lawmakers for their bold moves, said in a series of tweets on his verified twitter handle, @BukolaSaraki that he was indeed happy the chat he had with the Assembly Speaker, Ali Ahmed, had resulted in the passage of the bill.
In 2017, the Senate’s President said he had already directed the Kwara State government to stop paying him pensions, adding that he had refunded funds earlier collected by him.
“I am happy that following my conversation with Kwara Speaker, @HonAliAhmad, two months ago, the Bill to suspend the payment of Pension to former Governors and their Deputies when they hold a Political or Public office was passed into law yesterday by the Kwara House of Assembly,” he tweeted.
“Moving forward, it is my hope that other State Assemblies take a cue from Kwara State and pass similar pieces of legislation into law.”
According to NAN reports, the Kwara State House of Assembly, on Tuesday, passed an amendment bill halting payment of pension to former Governors, deputy Governors and other officers holding political offices after their tenure in office.
The passage of the bill followed the consideration of the report of the House Committee on Establishment and Public Service at the Committee of the Whole House sitting in Ilorin. The motion for the passage of the bill was moved by the Deputy House Leader, Segilola Abdulkadir and was unanimously adopted by members.
The Deputy Speaker, Matthew Okedare, who presided over the plenary, directed the Clerk of the House, Alhaji Mohammed Katsina, to prepare clean copy of the bill for Governor’s assent.
The bill, which was forwarded to the House by the state Governor, AbdulFatah Ahmed, sought to review the existing law where payment of pension for former Governors and Deputy Governors after their tenures would be suspended.
