Bill to stop pension for ex-govs, deputies, passed by Abia Assembly

By Innocent Raphael

Abia House of Assembly on Tuesday passed a bill to stop the payment of pensions to former governors and their deputies in the state.

The bill was sponsored by Mr Uchanna Okoro, house Majority Leader and member Representing Arochukwu State Constituency.

Speaker of the assembly, Mr Emmanuel Emeruwa, announced the bill’s passage after its first, and second reading consideration at the committee, as well as its 3rd reading during the day’s plenary.

While congratulating the sponsor and members who had supported the bill’s passage, Emeruwa stated that the bill would reduce the state’s governance expenses and redirect resources towards development.

He further disclosed that the bill once assented to by the governor would be referred to as “Abia State Governors and Deputy Governor’s (Repeal) Law 2024.”

The Speaker also stated that bill would take effect immediately, Tuesday, March 19, 2024.

Across Nigeria recently, there had been a lot of controversies over what has been described by lawmakers as “outrageous life benefits” accorded to former governors and their deputies, with many state assemblies moving to repeal the law.

With the assent of the bill, former governors and their deputies will no longer enjoy pension benefits after their tenures have expired.