Life pension bill: Enugu has weaponised poverty against residents, says group

A group of concerned professionals from Enugu has accused the state government of “weaponising poverty” at the expense of developments that would benefit the residents.

The group said on Wednesday that the attempt to provide life pension for former governors of the state shows is a “misplaced priority” coming when pensioners are being owed

TheCable had reported how the state house of assembly introduced a life pension bill to provide annual monetary benefits running into billions of naira for former governors and deputies.

This is despite the state having a 58 percent poverty rate and generating just N12.2 billion as internal revenue in the first half of 2020.

The bill was eventually stepped down following a public outcry.

In a statement shared with TheCable, the Concerned Professionals from Enugu State said the bill would have cost the state N1.7 billion annually.

The statement signed by Chichi Aniagolu and 22 others, said the move is evidence of a “deeper disconnect” between the government and residents.

“Coming at a time when Enugu state’s economy has been battered by Covid-19; when the state is going through its worst water crisis since 1979 and where there is manifest infrastructural decay in Enugu state, this bill shows a deep insensitivity to Ndi Enugu and a misplaced priority by the political leadership,” the group said.

“Thankfully, the State Assembly stepped down this bill following the outcry from all over Ala Igbo. The fact that a bill of this nature made it into the House of Assembly in the first instance is troubling.

“By its historical importance in Ala Igbo, Enugu state is supposed to be the trailblazer and pacesetter in Nigeria and Ala Igbo in particular. Sadly, over the years, the political leadership in Enugu state has maintained an unhelpful culture of rent and elite conspiracy that weaponized poverty and patronage at the expense of people-centred development.

“Today, pensioners in Enugu state are being owed their legitimate pension and the unemployment rate in Enugu is above 50 percent. Other development indices in Enugu show a worrying trend of stagnation and an economy on its’ knees.”

The group added that the administration of Ifeanyi Ugwuani, Enugu governor, must “wake up to the reality and urgency of the moment” as nothing shows the state has “received more than N280 billion” as federal allocation since 2017.

“The dwindling internally generated revenue and federal allocation to Enugu state require bold and creative thinking to design a clear economic recovery plan for the state in consultation with organized private sector and development partners. This should be the priority,” it said.

“We demand greater transparency and accountability in the management of resources. We invite Enugu state to make better use of available communication tools to engage constructively with Ndi Enugu both at home and abroad.”