Kwara cancels pension to ex-governors signed by Saraki in 2011

Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has signed into law a bill that repeals payment of pension to former governors and deputies of the state.

Mr AbdulRazaq signed the publicly supported bill on Tuesday during a budget signing ceremony.

The governor had in November disclosed plans to cancel the payment of the hefty sums to the former elected officials citing the need to manage the limited financial resouces of the state.

He then forwarded the executive bill to the state House of Assembly, which unanimously passed it.

The pension bill to governors and deputies was signed into law in 2011 under the administration of ex-Governor, Bukola Saraki. He however claimed he had stopped receiving payment since 2017.

The benefits to the ex-governors included:

Annual Basic Salary: 100% of annual basic salaries of the incumbent governor and deputy

Accommodation: “Well-furnished” 5-bedroom duplex for governor; “well-furnished” 4-bedroom for deputy.

Transport: Two cars and one pilot car every three years for ex-governor; one car and one pilot car every three years for the deputy.

Furniture: 300% of annual basic salary every four years.

House maintenance: 10% of annual basic salary.

Domestic staff: Cook, steward, gardener and other domestic staff (no limit) who shall be pensionable.

Medical: Free medical treatment for ex-governor and deputy and members of their families (not just spouses).

Meanwhile, the governor also on Tuesday signed the state 2021 Appropriation Bill. He said that the budget is geared at building the ongoing infrastructural development and boost youth empowerment and social investment.

“This budget will build on the achievements of the previous years in the areas of education, health, and roads infrastructure. We are also focusing on youth empowerment, job creation, and social investments which are very critical at this point of our national life,” the governor said.