Socio-Economic Rights Accountability Project (SERAP) has expressed concern over the proposed payment of severance allowances by different states to their elected political leaders in the country.
In its Twitter post of April 20, SERAP said “Each of the 14 governors not returning to get N6.67 million as severance allowance; deputies to get N6.34m *434 state lawmakers in 27 states to get N1.88 billion; with each getting 300% of their annual basic salary *+retirement benefits/pension packages VERY SAD!”
SERAP, a non-profit, non-partisan, legal & advocacy organisation devoted to promoting transparency, accountability & respect for socio-economic rights in Nigeria, stated “Fourteen governors, their deputies and 434 state lawmakers who will not be returning to government will be going home with N2.06 billion. We’ll continue to challenge this outrageous practice for the sake of millions of Nigerians who deserve good governance and development.”
According to it, “In Anambra State, 17 lawmakers will go home with N73.78 million. In Plateau State, 16 lawmakers will get N69.44 million. In Edo State, 15 lawmakers will get N65.1 million. In Adamawa and Akwa Ibom states that have 14 non-returning lawmakers (each) will get N60.76 million.
“In Katsina State, 13 lawmakers will go home with N56.42 million. In Bayelsa State 12 lawmakers will get N52.08 million. In Abia State, 11 lawmakers will get N47.74 million. In Taraba State, 10 lawmakers will get N43.4 million. In Ebonyi and Borno states at nine lawmakers will get N39.06 million per state.
“In Cross River State, 4 lawmakers will get N17.36 million. In Rivers State, 3 lawmakers will get N13.02 million. In Lagos State, 1 lawmaker will get N4.34 million.”
SERAP further tweeted “In Ogun State, 22 lawmakers will get N95.48 million. In Bauchi State, 22 lawmakers will get N95.48 million. In Imo State, 21 lawmakers will go home with N91.14 million. In Gombe State, 19 lawmakers will get N82.46 million. In Ondo State, 18 lawmakers will get N78.12 million.
“Payout for losing elections? *In Oyo State, 30 lawmakers will get N130.14 million. In Niger State, 27 lawmakers will get N117.12 million. In Benue State, 24 lawmakers will get N104.16 million. In Ekiti State, 24 lawmakers will go home with N104.16 million. In Kwara State, 23 lawmakers will get N99.82 million.”
“Governors who are expected to get N6.67 million each as severance allowance include Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha; Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed; Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode; Adamawa State Governor, Bindo Jibrila; Bauchi State Governor, Mohammed Abubakar,” it concluded.
