The Lagos State House of Assembly has opposed a move to repeal the law that provides for payment of pensions to the state’s former political officers, including ex-governors and their deputies as efforts are made to reduce the cost of governance in the state.
While presenting the Lagos State 2021 budget proposal before the House of Assembly in November 2020, the state governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu had stated that part of the ways his administration seeks to generate more revenue to fund the budget was to cut the cost of governance.
He promised to send a bill to the house that will seek discontinuation of pensions and other benefits for ex-governors and other political office holders in the state.
The Public Office Holder (Payment of Pension Law) was signed by former Lagos State governor, Bola Ahmed Tinibu in 2007 and it made huge provisions for former politicians. The array of benefits included captured by the law included 100 percent of the governor’s basic salary, a house in Lagos state and the FCT, six brand new automobiles (to be replaced every three years), several bogus allowances, a security entourage (paid by the state), among other things.
The bill titled “A bill for a law to repeal the law to provide for the payment of pensions and other fringe benefits to public office holders in Lagos State and for other connected matters” was debated on the floor of the Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday, May 24, 2021.
Several lawmakers argued against the repeal with most of them calling for an amendment instead of a total scrap. Tobun Abiodun, representing Epe Constituency 1 argued that scrapping the law may encourage corruption while in office.
Lawmakers Gbolahan Yishawu (Eti-Osa 2) and Oluyinka Ogundimu (Agege 2) said even though it is true that the state is battling to survive economically, the security of former political officers should be considered as repealing the law would mean withdrawing their security detail. They argued for an amendment of the law instead.
Others who supported an amendment include Abdulsobur Olawale (Mushin 2), Rotimi Abiru (Shomolu 2), Jude Idimogu (Oshodi-Isolo 2), and Saad Olumo (Ajeromi-Ifelodun 1). The bill was committed to the House Committee on Establishment to come up with a report based on their deliberations in two weeks.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Ministry has sacked a staff who disclosed his pay packet to the public. A Masters Degree holder from the Lagos State University, Mr. Toyemej Joseph Juwonlo who is a father of three was employed as a Drainage Supervisor (drainage cleaner) in Ikotun axis of the state and was to be paid N35,000 every month.
Upon his public disclosure of his salary, it was reported by P.M.EXPRESS that the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, got wind of it and queried the Ministry officials in that regard. But instead of adjusting his paycheck, he was asked to stop working without paying him for the days he had already worked.
More on this to follow…
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