JUST IN: Sanwo-Olu set to scrap ex-governors’ pensions

On Tuesday, the Governor of the State of Lagos, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, declared his intention to revoke the Public Office Holder (Payment of Pensions Act 2007), which provides for the payment to former Governors and their deputies of pensions and other entitlements.

He made this known while presenting the 2021 budget to the Lagos State House of Assembly.

Sanwoolu said the bill would be sent to the Lagos Assembly for legislative approval.

The elimination of pensions for former governors and deputies would lower the cost of governance, according to Sanwo-Olu.

He said, “Mr Speaker and Honourable Members of the House, in light of keeping the costs of governance low and to signal selflessness in public service, we will be sending a draft executive bill to the House imminently for the repeal of the Public Office Holder (Payment of Pension Law 2007), which provides for payment of pension and other entitlements to former Governors and their Deputies.”

Eko Hot Blog gathered that the Lagos House of Assembly had passed a pension bill for erstwhile governors and their deputies.

According to the law, the governor is entitled to N30 million pension annually, a house in Lagos and Abuja, six brand new cars every three years, medical allowances in any part of the world and other allowances.

READ ALSO: Sanwo-Olu Presents 2021 Appropriation Bill To Lagos House Of Assembly

The decision of the Federal High Court in Lagos directing the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, to review pension laws of various states was a sequel to a suit filed by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).

The House of Assembly in Zamfara had repealed the state’s pension law in response to the court’s ruling.