Lagos Lawmakers oppose bill to scrap Public Office Holder Pensions

Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday opposed the total scrapping of the Public Office Holder (Payment of Pension Law 2007), which ensures payment of pensions and other benefits to former Governors and their deputies.

A bill that seeks to repeal the law had passed second reading at the state house of assembly on Monday.

The new bill which was debated on the floor of the House at a sitting presided over by the Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, is 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’.

The lawmakers argued that it would not be too good to repeal the law in its entirety, as there were some important sections and stipulations that should be considered.

Speaking concerning the bill, Oluyinka Ogundimu (Agege 2), explained that the bill is to ensure the stoppage of pensions to governors and deputies when they leave office adding that this decision was in consideration of the country’s current economic challenges.

Ogundimu argued that the governors and their deputies and other such political office holders should be made to enjoy some benefits no matter how little.

He also argued that they should amend the bill in such a way that it would not throw former political officers to security challenges since if they repealed the original law, it would mean withdrawing all security agents and domestic staff earlier attached to them.

Another lawmaker, Rotimi Abiru (Shomolu 2), said he supports an amendment to the law instead of repeal.
“For a person who has served as chief executive of a state, I do not think it is nice denying them of their benefits.
 
“I can appreciate that some of them move to other appointments. For these people, there can be a caveat. But for those who serve in that capacity and do not have any other thing to do after office, it may not be something elaborate, but something may be coming to them periodically,” he said.

The lawmaker representing Epe Constituency 1, Tobun Abiodun, said he does not subscribe to a total repeal of the law because it would give room to corruption in office.

He said provisions should be made available to governors, deputies and possibly speakers after they leave office.

Other lawmakers who supported the amendment to the law include Jude Idimogu (Oshodi-Isolo 2), Saad Olumo (Ajeromi-Ifelodun 1) and Abdulsobur Olawale (Mushin 2).