The concerns surrounding the pensions and allowances of former Nigerian governors and deputy governors have consistently raised alarm among citizens.
According to reports, at least 14 Nigerian senators currently serving in the government are receiving both salaries as lawmakers and pensions as former state governors.
Senator Gbenga Daniel, who previously served as the governor of Ogun State, recently expressed his dissatisfaction with this situation through an open letter, where he criticized his fellow lawmakers for their lack of empathy towards the struggles of the impoverished masses.
In his letter, Daniel called for the suspension of his own pension as a former governor while he serves and earns as a senator, stating that receiving dual emoluments contradicts his moral and ethical principles. Quoting from the letter, he wrote: “I write to request the suspension of my monthly pension/allowances, which amounts to 676,376.95 Naira (gross), being paid as a former Executive Governor of Ogun State. This request is in accordance with my conscience, moral principle, and ethical code, which opposes receiving pension and allowances from the state as a serving Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, having previously held the position of a State Governor.”
Daniel further highlighted that since his departure from office in 2011, he has not benefited from any welfare packages, including medical, furniture, or transportation allowances.
Besides Daniel, there are other former governors currently serving in the Senate, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio (Akwa-Ibom State), Adams Oshiomhole (Edo State), Adamu Aliero (Kebbi State), Dave Umahi (Ebonyi State), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto State), and Abubakar Sani Bello (Niger State). Additionally, there are Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe State), Danjuma Goje (Gombe State), Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara State), Aliyu Wammako (Sokoto State), Orji Kalu (Abia State), Ibrahim Gaidam (Yobe State), and Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa State).
The issue of granting exorbitant lifelong pensions to former governors and their deputies is prevalent in many states, despite the fact that some of these states owe workers’ salaries and are among the poorest in the country.
The call to abolish these pensions has gained traction, with activists and rights groups such as the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) demanding an end to such laws. SERAP’s legal action led to a court order instructing the Federal Government to recover pensions received by ex-governors who currently serve as ministers and members of the National Assembly. However, it remains uncertain whether this directive has been implemented.
Recently, SERAP challenged Akpabio and the other 13 former governors to disclose the exact amount of their life pensions, if any, received from their respective states. The group also urged them to cease collecting such pensions and return the collected funds to the treasury, citing the constitutional oath of office, which requires lawmakers to publicly reject and return any pensions under the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).
While civil servants who have dedicated years of service receive meager and irregular pensions, former political leaders who served for a maximum of eight years enjoy generous benefits. The argument in favor of these pensions is that they serve as a safety net for ex-leaders and help combat corruption. However, this reasoning is flawed, as many former governors have been implicated in embezzlement and corruption scandals.
Numerous states, including Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Anambra, Borno, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Gombe, Jigawa, Sokoto, Kano, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Imo, Lagos, Niger, Ondo, Osun, Plateau, Ondo, Rivers, Yobe, and Zamfara, have enacted laws that grant pension benefits to their former governors and deputy governors. These benefits include salaries equivalent to those of incumbent governors, multiple vehicles every few years, luxurious accommodations, personal assistants, and drivers.
Political analyst Adewale Adeoye argues that providing such lavish benefits is wasteful and unjustifiable, particularly in a country like Nigeria, which struggles with poverty. Adeoye believes that enriching already wealthy individuals through such laws goes against the needs of the masses and the humanitarian values that governance should prioritize.
Several states have faced financial difficulties due to the implications of these pension laws. For example, Sokoto, known as “Nigeria’s poverty capital,” spends substantial amounts, such as 200 million Naira and 180 million Naira annually, on pensions for former governors and deputy governors, respectively. These expenses exceed the state’s internally generated revenue, exacerbating its economic challenges. Similarly, Jigawa, where the majority of residents live on less than 377 Naira per day, provides extensive benefits to former governors while grappling with limited revenue.
In response to the economic downturn caused by COVID-19, some states have initiated steps to repeal these laws. Lagos and Kwara states have announced plans to abolish lifetime pension benefits for ex-governors. Currently, Lagos offers ex-governors multiple houses, cars, furniture allowances, and other extravagant perks. The move to abolish these benefits aims to reduce the cost of governance and promote a spirit of selflessness in public service.
The abolition of ex-governors’ pensions has become crucial to alleviate the financial strain on states and prioritize the welfare of the people. It is recommended that citizens
