The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has thrown down the gauntlet to President Bola Tinubu, urging him to take a leaf out of Governor Alex Otti of Abia State’s book by promptly complying with a court directive. This mandate calls for the federal government to claw back pensions received by former governors and to question the legality of state pension laws that allow such extravagant benefits. This comes on the heels of a landmark judgement dated 26 November 2019 by Honourable Justice Oluremi Oguntoyinbo, which has yet to see compliance.
Governor Otti recently made headlines by signing a bill that repeals the Abia State law enabling lifetime salaries and housing benefits for former governors and deputy governors. This move has been applauded by SERAP, which contrasted Otti’s actions with the inaction of former president Muhammadu Buhari, who failed to enforce the judgement.
SERAP’s letter to President Tinubu, penned by Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare on 23 March 2024, argues that non-compliance with the judgement allows former governors, now serving in various capacities within the Tinubu administration and the National Assembly, to dodge accountability for their actions. This defiance of the court order undermines the rule of law and the integrity of Nigeria’s legal system.
The organisation also aligns with former president Olusegun Obasanjo’s critique of states’ pension laws as “acts of daylight robbery” and his call for their abolition. SERAP posits that obeying the court’s decision would not only uphold the rule of law but also demonstrate Tinubu’s commitment to constitutional governance and public interest.
Notably, Justice Oguntoyinbo’s judgement not only mandated the recovery of public funds from former governors and their deputies enjoying such pensions but also challenged the legality of state laws allowing these officials to receive governors’ emoluments while drawing regular salaries in their new political offices.
The letter brings to light the broader issue of fiscal responsibility and social justice, highlighting the stark contrast between the luxurious post-office benefits of former governors and the financial struggles faced by regular Nigerian workers and pensioners. With several states having enacted life pension laws for former governors and other ex-officials, the call for compliance with the court’s judgement is a rallying cry for systemic change and accountability in governance.
PM News