Akpabio bows to pressure, agrees to expunge “obnoxious” provision from scandalous pension law After coming under a barrage of attacks for imposing a scandalous pension plan on his state, Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom state has buckled under pressure, agreeing to expunge “obnoxious” provisions from the law. Mr. Akpabio has been widely criticized for manipulating his state’s rubber stamp House of Assembly to pass the law, which would further impoverish his people but enable him to pocket over N200 million annually after he leaves office. The profligate governor, reputed for wasting his state’s oil money and for making outrageous donations across the country while millions of his own people wallow in poverty and disease, had schemed to secretly get the law passed to avoid the kind of public uproar that has now greeted it. But PREMIUM TIMES exclusively exposed his plan, and Nigerians rightly condemned what they considered his greed and avarice. Initially, Mr. Akpabio scrambled to defend his action, buying prime time appearances on leading TV networks and sponsoring articles in national dailies to justify why he and his wife must live in mind-boggling opulence for the rest of their lives in a hugely indebted state where millions can’t find jobs. But addressing journalists in Lagos on Tuesday, a flustered Mr. Akpabio said following nationwide outcry, he would request the state Assembly to immediately review the law, with a view to expunging one of its obnoxious provisions. “This is a democracy and you must listen to the voice of the people,” Mr. Akpabio said. “What I have decided to do, in consultation with the state executive council, is to appeal to the House of Assembly to immediately expunge the obnoxious provision or that which is interpreted to be obnoxious.” But the governor indicated he would only expunge the provision of the law which provided for N100million medical allowance for ex-governors. “I hope that will satisfy Nigerians,” he said. He however appears unwilling to give up his request for a mansion in Uyo or Abuja and a demand for N12 million medical allowance for his wife. The Akwa Ibom Assembly, notorious for alienating their own people and for doing only the bidding of Mr. Akpabio, had rushed through the passage of the law on May 26 despite public outcry and a hailstone of criticism across the country, approving a whooping N200 million annual pay for Mr. Akpabio and other ex-governors; among other perks. The assembly also approved the construction of a mansion which would serve as Mr. Akpabio’s retirement home; in addition to brand new cars, befitting furniture and other luxuries for the rest of his life. PREMIUM TIMES had exclusively reported about the controversial bill just as it was presented for first reading in the Assembly, which has a history of never holding the governor to account. Mr. Akpabio had forwarded the bill known as Akwa Ibom State Governors and Deputy Governors Pension Bill, 2014, to the assembly through a letter dated May 15. To underscore the urgency of the proposed law, the Governor indicated he wanted it passed hurriedly so it could come into force on June 1. While labour and civil society groups mobilised their members for a showdown with both the governor and the state lawmakers, the assembly hurriedly passed the law Under the new law, Mr. Akpabio and former democratically elected governors of the state and their deputies as well as indigenes of the state who served in similar positions in Cross River State, will pocket several millions in monthly retirement perks. Based on Section 1(1) of the law, “An indigene of the state who has held office as a democratically elected governor or deputy governor of former Cross River State and a person who has held office as a democratically elected governor or deputy governor of the state shall when he ceases to hold office be entitled,” to the new perks. Although similar laws were passed by many Nigerian governors including those of Kwara, Lagos, Rivers, Bauchi and Benue states, among others, Mr. Akpabio’s version is clearly the most ludicrous. Under it, Mr. Akpabio and others listed in Section 1(1) are entitled to a monthly pension for life at a rate equivalent to his current salary. Similarly, the serving deputy governor, Valerie Ebe, is entitled to a monthly pension for life at the rate of her current salary. Mr. Akpabio and his deputy; Mrs. Ebe will therefore pocket a total of N2, 223, 705. 00; and N2, 112, 215, 00 respectively as monthly and a total of N26, 684, 460,00 and N25, 346, 580 respectively as pension, per annum. This is based on approved remuneration package for state executive and local government executives by the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC. The governor is also entitled to a new official car and a utility vehicle once every four years, one personal aide and the provision of adequate security for his person during his lifetime at the expense of the state government. Akwa Ibom taxpayers are also expected to provide an amount not exceeding N5 million or an equivalent of $50,000.00 monthly for Mr. Akpabio to engage the services of a cook, chauffeurs and security guards. This provision is in contrast with Section 1(b) of the bill, which indicates that security shall be provided to former governors during their lifetime at the expense of the government. However, the deputy governor is entitled to N2million naira or an equivalent of $20,000.00 monthly allowance to hire cooks, chauffeurs and security guards. Mr. Akpabio and his spouse are to also access free medical services at a sum not exceeding N100 million or an equivalent of $600,000.00, while the deputy and her spouse will pocket N30 million or an equivalent of $200,000.00, annually. Based on budget figures from the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, NPHDA, and the Millennium Development Goal(s), MDG, the amounts set aside for the two government functionaries to access medical services could build and equip two state-of-the-art health centres and two blocks of classrooms in the state. Section 1(e, f, g, h, I j) of the bill wants Mr. Akpabio and other past governors entitled to a “Provision of a befitting house not below a 5-bedroom maisonette in either the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja or Akwa Ibom State for the Governor and a yearly accommodation allowance of 300 percent of annual basic salary for the deputy governor; (300 percent of the deputy governor’s basic salary is N6, 336,645). “Provision of furniture allowance of 300 percent of annual basic salary once in every four years; (A total of N6, 671,115 for the governor and N6, 336,645 for the deputy) “Provision of yearly maintenance and fueling of vehicle allowance of 300 percent of annual basic salary; (A total of N6, 671,115 for the governor and N6, 336,645 for the deputy) “Provision of severance gratuity allowance of 300 percent of annual basic salary as at the time the officer leaves office; (Another N6, 671,115 for the governor and N6, 336,645 for the deputy) “Provision of yearly utility allowance of 100 percent of annual salary; (with the governor taking N2, 223,705 while his deputy takes N2, 112, 215) “And provision of entertainment allowance of 100 percent of annual basic salary; (Another N2, 223,705 for the governor and N2, 112, 215 for the deputy).” According to Section 2 of the proposed law, a former governor or deputy who received severance gratuity under Akwa Ibom State Public and Political Office Holders (Remuneration) Law, 2000 is not eligible for any other severance pay. This means that former Governor Attah will enjoy the sumptuous retirement perks but will not be entitled to severance pay since they had been paid based on the provisions of the 2000 law. Where a former governor or deputy governor dies, the law provides that the state government makes adequate arrangement and bear the financial responsibility for the burial. The government is also expected to pay a condolence allowance of a sum equivalent to the annual basic salary of an incumbent to the next of kin. One surviving spouse of the governor is entitled to a medical allowance not exceeding N12 million per annum provided such spouse was married to the governor at the time he or she was in office or if a wife; had served as First Lady. Unless on health grounds, a former governor or deputy who resigned his office, or impeached or who had not held office for a period of three years or more, is not entitled to benefit from the provision of the new law. With this provision, Mr. Akpabio’s estranged friend and the former Deputy Governor, Nsima Ekere, will not be eligible to enjoy the lavish perks.
Posted on: Wed, 04 Jun 2014 19:23:13 +0000
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