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| Gov. Godswill Akpabio |
Overwhelmed
by the outburst of criticism of an outrageous pension bill recently passed into
law by the state legislature, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio on
Tuesday disclosed that he had directed the removal of the “obnoxious”
provisions from the law.
Speaking
to newsmen in Lagos yesterday, Akpabio said, “this is democracy and you must
listen to the voice of the people.”
“What
I have decided to do, in consultation with the state executive council, is to
appeal to the House of Assembly to immediately expunge the obnoxious provision
or that which is interpreted to be obnoxious.”
He,
however, pointed out that he is only seeking the expunge of provision which
provided for N100 million medical allowance for ex-governors. “I hope that will
satisfy Nigerians?,” he asked.
This
means other juicy perks, including his request for a mansion in Uyo or Abuja
and a demand for N12 million medical allowance for his wife stays.
In
an official announcement by the state government, the Governor said he hopes
that “with the excision of these sections from the amendment, the agents of
falsehood would lift their siege on truth and not distract the good people of
this state from the task of the Uncommon Transformation of our dear state.”
His
request if granted, will see the amount expandable for ex-governors and
deputies earlier pegged at N100 million and N50 million respectively (#per
annum) expunged and status quo restored.
The
statement further reads: “Because of the sponsored media comments and
misinformation of the members of the public on the good intentions of Pension
Act by the few opposition elements in the state, and because this government is
a product of the people, we have, as a government decided to forward a request
to the House that those areas which the opposition have capitalized on to
misinform the people be expunged and the former law that had been in existence
be made to remain the law.”
Referring
to those who “politicized” the issue, the governor said, “remember that I am
not a governorship candidate. Instead of firing brickbats at me, let them tell
the good people of Akwa Ibom State their plans for Akwa Ibom State.”
Akpabio
noted that “In the last few weeks, truth has come under siege by agents of
falsehood in Akwa Ibom State. The good people of Akwa Ibom State have been
unfortunately subjected to the cruelest and most unkind political gimmickry in
the history of our state over the amendment of a sixteen-year-old law. This
tidal wave of propaganda, misinformation, lies, falsehood, mischief and
cynicism, we fear, may already have sucked in some unsuspecting members of the
public who lack the ability to appreciate the salient points of this law and
its ennobling attributes.”
“The
GOVERNORS AND DEPUTY GOVERNORS PENSION LAW was first enacted in 1998 as the
Special Grant (Former Chief Executives) Edict. It was amended in 1999 by the
Special Grant (Former Chief Executives (Amendment) Edict of 1999) and was
retained in Cap. 122 Laws of Akwa Ibom State 2000. It was amended in 2002 by
the Governors and Deputy Governors Pension Law 2002, which was later repealed
by the Governors and Deputy Governors Pension Law 2006 assented to by my
predecessor in office on 26th April 2007.
“In
the course of its implementation, we noticed a lacuna in the 2007 law,
particularly on account of its open-endedness in the provisions relating to the
medical expenses and provision of funds for the employment of domestic staff
for the former Governors and Deputy Governors and working with the House of
Assembly, we sought to protect the law from abuse by putting a ceiling on the
medical expenses for the treatment of these senior citizens of Akwa Ibom State.
“The
ceiling, which was pegged at N100 million per annum for former Governors and
N50 million per annum for former Deputy Governors, was never meant to be given
either in part or in whole to anybody at anytime for any reason. It was meant
to be paid to health institutions involved in the treatment of the former
Governors or former Deputy Governors and their spouses. It was, therefore,
deliberate falsehood and organized misinformation to claim that the said money
will be paid to former Governors or Deputy Governors every year. This has never
been the practice and the amendment has added nothing to give credence to this
obviously politicized orchestration.
“Former
Governors and Deputy Governors and their spouses who were not sick were not to
receive a dime from the fund. These sums, which were for the Governors and the
Deputy Governor’s medical treatment, suffered the most bashing from a
mischievous vocal minority who sought to reap political capital out of it. In
their frenzied desperation, they even claimed that the law was made for my
personal benefit. They lost sight of the fact that I am not among the
beneficiaries as I am not on pension.
“The
other sickening claim was that we excluded some categories of eligible former
Deputy Governors and Governors. This is absolutely incorrect. Since the
Governors and Deputy Governors Pension Law 2006 referred to above, a new
eligibility provision beyond just being a former Governor or Deputy Governor of
Akwa Ibom State origin was introduced by the last administration whereby
certain persons who served in these two offices and who would otherwise have
benefited from the pension, were excluded on account of resignation otherwise
than on health grounds, impeachment or holding office for a period less than
three years. Section 3 of the 2006 version of the Law attests to this, and this
provision, retained in section 3 of the 2014 version of the Law has attracted
unsavory comments as though it was a new provision just inserted.
‘It
is distressing to all patriots in our state that this well reasoned and
thought-out solution to an open-ended law, which common-sense indicates can be
subject to abuse. I share the sense of revulsion of all decent Akwa Ibom people
in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly in particular and the entire State in
general at these politics of blackmail.
“I
believe in the Akwa Ibom project as evidenced in my work in the state. I am
under oath to protect the constitution of this great country, and this I have
done to the best of my abilities. I am obligated by the mandate given to me by
the good people of my state to do good to all manner of people and I have not
been found wanting in this responsibility. This amendment was undertaken, with
the patriotic understanding of the House of Assembly, in fulfillment of these
articles of faith.”
Akpabio
condemned the media attack on the members of the House, saying “I reject in its
entirety the unwarranted condemnation of this altruistic amendment. I am deeply
saddened by the vilification of the Honourable Members of the House of Assembly
for undertaking a course of action, which we as a state, we should applaud.
“Truth
has been under siege and today I have decided that we should lift this evil
siege by proposing to the House of Assembly that the parts of the amendment
putting a N100 million ceiling and a N50 million ceiling on the medical
treatment of former Governors and former Deputy Governors respectively be
expunged from the amendment.
“Let
it revert to the open-ended situation inherent in the law, before the
amendment. I will further advise, in observance of the articles of faith
guiding the discharge of the Office of Governor that, through extant circulars,
a medical insurance scheme be put in place for the authentic and proper
management of the medical treatment of former Governors and Deputy Governors
and their spouses in order to ensure that the open-ended nature of the law is
not abused.”
Breakdown
of controversial law:
Based
on approved remuneration package for state executive and local government
executives by the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission,
RMAFC, Akpabio and his deputy will the receive a total of N2, 223, 705. 00; and
N2, 112, 215, 00 respectively as monthly and a total of N26, 684, 460,00 and
N25, 346, 580 respectively as pension, per annum.
He
is entitled to a new official car and a utility vehicle once every four years,
one personal aide and the provision of adequate security for his person during
his lifetime at the expense of the state government.
Akwa
Ibom taxpayers are also expected to provide an amount not exceeding N5 million
or an equivalent of $50,000.00 monthly for him to engage the services of a
cook, chauffeurs and security guards.
His
deputy will get N2million naira or an equivalent of $20,000.00 monthly
allowance to hire cooks, chauffeurs and security guards.
The
governor and his wife are to also access free medical services at a sum not
exceeding N100 million or an equivalent of $600,000.00, while his deputy and
her spouse will get N30 million or an equivalent of $200,000.00, annually.
Section
1(e, f, g, h, I j) of the bill entitles Mr. Akpabio and other past governors
entitled to a “Provision of a befitting house not below a 5-bedroom maisonette
in either the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja or Akwa Ibom State for the
Governor and a yearly accommodation allowance of 300 percent of annual basic
salary for the deputy governor; (300 percent of the deputy governor’s basic
salary is N6, 336,645).
“Provision
of furniture allowance of 300 percent of annual basic salary once in every four
years; (A total of N6, 671,115 for the governor and N6, 336,645 for the deputy)
“Provision
of yearly maintenance and fueling of vehicle allowance of 300 percent of annual
basic salary; (A total of N6, 671,115 for the governor and N6, 336,645 for the
deputy)
“Provision
of severance gratuity allowance of 300 percent of annual basic salary as at the
time the officer leaves office; (Another N6, 671,115 for the governor and N6,
336,645 for the deputy)
“Provision
of yearly utility allowance of 100 percent of annual salary; (with the governor
taking N2, 223,705 while his deputy takes N2, 112, 215)
“And
provision of entertainment allowance of 100 percent of annual basic salary;
(Another N2, 223,705 for the governor and N2, 112, 215 for the deputy).”
According
to Section 2 of the proposed law, a former governor or deputy who received
severance gratuity under Akwa Ibom State Public and Political Office Holders
(Remuneration) Law, 2000 is not eligible for any other severance pay.
This
means that former Governor Obong Victor Attah will enjoy the benefits, but not
severance pay since they had been paid based on the provisions of the 2000 law.
Where
a former governor or deputy governor dies, the law provides that the state
government makes adequate arrangement and bear the financial responsibility for
the burial.
The
government is also expected to pay a condolence allowance of a sum equivalent
to the annual basic salary of an incumbent to the next of kin.
One
surviving spouse of the governor is entitled to a medical allowance not
exceeding N12 million per annum provided such spouse was married to the governor
at the time he or she was in office or if a wife; had served as First Lady.
Unless
on health grounds, a former governor or deputy who resigned his office, or
impeached or who had not held office for a period of three years or more, is
not entitled to benefit from the provision of the new law.
The
provision, however, will no be applicable to former Deputy Governor, Nsima
Ekere, who hurriedly resigned on Wednesday 31st October, 2012, to avoid
impeachment allegedly sponsored by Governor Akpabio.
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