Enugu Assembly To Drop Life Pension Bill For Former Governors

 

Enugu State House of Assembly has stepped down the controversial life pensions Bill for former governors, their deputies and spouses.

This is coming after protesters stormed the assembly complex at about 11 am on Tuesday March 16, demanding that the bill should be withdrawn.

The executive bill titled ‘Enugu State Gubernatorial Pensions Bill 2021’, grants at least 900 percent of a governor’s annual salary as monetary entitlements for the former occupants of the office every year after leaving office.

It also has provisions for major expenses an ex-governor can incur in his/her life, including financial responsibility for burial.

Former Governor’s wife are also entitled to N12 million as annual medical allowance.

Speaking at the plenary today March 16, speaker of the house Edward Ubosi said the lawmakers will “thoroughly go through it (the bill) to enable them to delete and add necessary sections to it.”

Majority leader of the house, Ikechukwu Ezeugwu on the other hand said the assembly will be guided by the views of their constituents when reconsidering the bill.

Ezeugwu who also disclosed that a public hearing will be held to ensure all opinions are considered, denied claims of the assembly being a “rubber stamp” legislative arm for Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.