For many of us, the plan is to work hard so that we can live a soft life after retirement. It seems the same goes for Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State.
On April 11, 2023, he proposed a pension Bill to the state House of Assembly, a retirement package for Benue state’s ex-governors. However, Ortom’s “retirement plan” might eventually send Benue state into taking loans from Lapo.
Let’s break down the Bill
The Bill titled, “A Bill for a Law to make Provisions for the Maintenance of Former Governors of Benue State and their Deputies and for Other Matters Connected Thereto” involves the following benefits:
- Section 2(a)(i) makes provisions for the payment to all former governors a monthly “stipend”, which is equivalent to the “salary” of an incumbent governor.
- Section 2(a)(ii) makes provisions for the payment to all former deputy governors, a “stipend” equivalent to the “salary” of an incumbent deputy governor.
- Section 2(b) ensures that a building of permanent residential accommodation in any town and state of their choice.
- Section 2(c) and (h) provide the provisions of 4 new cars every four years for former governors and 2 new cars every four years for former deputy governors, which shall all be serviced and maintained at the expense of the state.
- Section 2(d) and (e) provide 6 personal staff for former governors and 3 for former deputy governors, all to be paid by the state.
- Section 2(f) provides 24-hour security surveillance and guarding for all former governors and deputy governors.
- Section 2(g) provides free medical treatment for them, their wives and children below 18.
- Section 3 provides that all benefits can be monetised.
- And lastly, in Section 4, former governors provide the entitlement of 2 vacations abroad annually and 1 for deputy governors.
Why is this Bill Outrageous?
If successfully passed into Law, former governors and deputy governors would be entitled to these benefits for life. Also, it’ll be backdated to cover these former lawmakers from as far back as 1999.
But to give you a clearer idea of how much this will cost, the monthly salary of a sitting governor is ₦11,540,896. If Sen. George Akume, former Benue State Governor (1999-2007), was to get his pension according to the proposed Bill, it would mean that he’d be entitled to 138,490,752 annually and about 2.2 billion Naira from the time since he left office.
Another reason why this Bill is proof that the air many Nigerian politicians breathe is most likely cocaine is the fact that since Ortom became Governor of Benue state eight years ago, pensioners haven’t received their gratuity. And Ortom’s retirement plan proposes that the benefits be charged to the state’s Consolidated Revenue Fund, meaning it would take priority over payment of gratuities, pensions and salaries.
Earlier this year, many teachers in Benue state reported that they resorted to petty trading and farming as many were owed a backlog of 10-15 months’ salaries. During the recent Workers’ Day Celebration on May 1, 2023, Benue state workers complained once again about the salaries owed to them. Teachers are being owed 11 months’ salaries, local government workers 10 months and at the state level, about 8 months’ salaries.
However, despite the obvious reasons why this Bill should be thrown out by the State House of Assembly, it has passed its first reading.
Reactions to the Bill
The Incorporated Trustees of Bridges and Hands Foundation have filed a suit in Benue State High Court, challenging the pension Bill on how it’s unjustifiable given the state of civil servants and pensioners. The court will begin hearing on May 5, 2023.
The Benue State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has also kicked against the pension Bill saying it was not only unfair given the situation of pensioners, but it would also increase the despair in the state.
The Governor-elect, Hyacinth Alia, has also raised alarms saying it’d serve only the outgoing governor and increase the state’s dependence on the Federation Account.
Hopefully, Benue’s State House of Assembly sees the absurdity of this Bill and does the responsible thing by rejecting it.
