Sanwo-Olu moves to abolish pension, entitlements for ex-governors

Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the governor of Lagos state, has submitted a bill to the state house of assembly to abolish pension payments to former governors.

According to a tweet by Jubril Gawat, the governor’s senior special assistant on new media, the bill will repeal pension payments and entitlements to ex-governors and their deputies.

“Governor of Lagos State, Mr @jidesanwoolu has announced his intention, through executive bill, to repeal the public office holder (Payment of Pension Law 2007), which provides for payment of pension & other entitlements to former governors and their deputies,” Gawat tweeted.

FLASH: Governor of Lagos State, Mr @jidesanwoolu has announced his intention, through executive bill, to REPEAL the Public Office Holder (Payment of Pension Law 2007), which provides for payment of pension & other entitlements to former Governors and their Deputies. pic.twitter.com/7Zi79R01Bm

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— The Greater Lagos Project (@GreaterLagosNG) November 10, 2020

Since Nigeria returned to democratic rule in 1999, Lagos state, which is the country’s commercial capital, has had three governors excluding Sanwo-Olu.

The former governors are Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was governor between 1999 and 2007; Babatunde Raji Fashola, now minister of works and housing, who was governor between 2007 and 2015; and Akinwumi Ambode, who was governor from 2015 to 2019.

PENSION AND ENTITLEMENTS FOR GOVERNORS IN LAGOS

The Lagos State Governor and Deputy Governor Pensions Law of 2007 provides that the former governor is entitled to six new cars every three years and a house in Lagos and another in Abuja.

Conservatively, a house in Lagos will cost N750 million and one in Abuja N1 billion. The former governor and family (spouse and children ─ both married and unmarried) are entitled to free medical which is not capped.

Another highlight is that the ex-governor is entitled to a cook, steward, gardener, and other domestic staff who are pensionable.

THE BENEFITS

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

Accommodation: One residential house in Lagos and another in FCT for the former governor; one residential house in Lagos for the deputy.

Transport: Three cars, two back-up cars and one pilot car for the ex-governor every three years; two cars, two back-up cars and one pilot car for the deputy every three years.

Furniture: 300% of annual basic salary every two 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).

Security: Two SSS operatives, one female officer, eight policemen (four each for house and personal security) for the ex-governor; one SSS operative and two policemen (one each for house and personal security) for the deputy.

PA: 25% of annual basic salary.

Car maintenance: 30% of annual basic salary.

Entertainment: 10% of annual basic salary.

Utility: 20% of annual basic salary.

Drivers: Pensionable (no limit to number of drivers).

Severance gratuity: Not specified.

Details of pension and entitlements of former governors of other states in the country can be found HERE.