In Nigeria, Governors have been known to enjoy a lot of benefits in office and the jamboree even continues some years after they leave the office.
In a video that has surfaced online, human rights advocate under the Agesis, PENCHOP pension reviews the benefits and severance packages allocated to gubernatorial positions in Nigeria.
With the new law, which is an amended version of the older statutes, a former governor and an ex-deputy governor will be earning a severance gratuity allowance of 300 percent of their annual basic salary as at the time of leaving office.
Provisions for the Lagos State Governor and Deputy Governor Pensions Law of 2007 are also very attractive and make the positions of governor and the deputy governor of the state worth fighting for.
After leaving the office, they are entitled to 100 percent of their annual basic salaries.
There is provision for one residential house in Lagos and another in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, for the former governor and one residential house in Lagos for the deputy.
The law also makes provisions for three cars, two back-up cars, and one pilot car for the ex-governor every three years.
A former deputy governor is entitled to two cars, two back-up cars, and one pilot car every three years.
Both are entitled to 300 percent of annual basic salary every two years; 10 percent of annual basic salary for house maintenance, cook, steward, gardener, and other domestic staff who shall be pensionable.
The governor also gets six DSS officers and two police orderlies while the first lady is entitled to two female DSS officers.
The deputy gets four DSS officers and police orderly.
Despite the severance allowance which they are entitled to, the ex-governors in the state and their deputies will also be entitled to furniture allowance of 300 percent of their annual basic salary once in every four years; yearly maintenance and fueling of vehicle allowance of 300 percent of annual basic salary; utility allowance of 100 percent of their annual salary; and entertainment allowance of 100 percent of annual basic salary.
A former governor of Akwa Ibom State and spouse will also be entitled to ₦100m for medicals annually, and a former deputy governor and spouse a maximum of ₦30m. Widows or widowers married to former governors while in office will be entitled to ₦12m medical allowance in a year, while those of deputy governors will take N6m.
Under the law, the state will also bear the cost of medical treatment of ex-governors and ex-deputy governors as well as members of their families.
Among other perks, they will be entitled to 25 percent of annual basic salary for their personal assistants, 30 percent of their annual basic salary for car maintenance, 10 percent of annual basic salary for entertainment; 20 percent of annual basic salary for utility.
The advocate ends it with a statement that after all these severance benefits, most Governors still turn the senate into their personal retirement home.
He adds that these amenities be cut down because when compared to their colleagues in other countries, they are living like gods. Siphoning the states’ allowance to their own personal benefits.
These unnecessary amenities and benefits all contribute to the factors which aid in toppling Nigeria’s already staggering economy.
These Governors enjoy mammoth salaries while they groan every day at the thought of paying the newly established ₦30,000 minimum wage to their civil workers. They take pride and joy in owing salaries which span into many months on end while still gluttonously dipping into state coffers.
This leads to the accumulation of state debts and empty reserve accounts. The debt being owed by such states, according to some analysts, is a clear indication that the jumbo pensions for former governors were not sustainable, especially with the low level of development in the states. Which makes some of them to rely on bailouts from the Federal Government to pay their numerous allowances, salaries and pensions.
AFRICA TODAY NEWS, NEW YORK