Saraki: I have stopped receiving pension from Kwara

Senate President Bukola Saraki says he has stopped receiving pension from Kwara as a former governor of the state.

Speaking at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) forum in Abuja on Tuesday, the senate president said he wrote a letter to the state government to stop the payment of the pension.

According to him, the decision was sequel to complaints from some quarters that former governors who are currently senators or ministers were receiving pension and salary in their new jobs, all from the government.

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), a civil society organisation, had accused former governors of receiving double pay from the government, which it said was illegal.

“No, I’m not collecting pension; the moment I saw that allegation, I wrote to my state to stop my pension,” he said.

“So, I speak for myself on that part; I’m not doing that, I am not receiving pension from my state.”

On other ex-governors now senators who are also receiving double pay, Saraki said: “I think I will leave everybody to their individual decision.”

“Morally, if you have got another job, you should give it up until when you are truly a pensioner.

“Some of these oversights are not addressing the issues. What the states should do is to go and amend their laws to say that if you have another appointment then you are not entitled to that benefit.

“With this, we will just simplify the matter.”

“We are looking at the possibility of what we can do to create more incentives for Nigerians.”