Former Governors in the 36 states of the federation are said to have collected N400 billion as life pensions from 1999 to date.
Socio-Economic Rights & Accountability Project (SERAP) on Tuesday tweeted “Nigeria’s former state governors have collected more than N400bn in life pensions across several of the 36 states. since 1999. They’re still collecting!
SERAP (@SERAPNigeria), a non-profit, non-partisan, legal & advocacy organisation devoted to promoting transparency, accountability & respect for socio-economic rights in Nigeria, wrote “We have so many reasons to keep fighting to end this travesty and crime against humanity. Nigeria deserves better than this.”
Reacting to the tweet, Grace John wrote “Nigerians must stop them from collecting… Tinubu, Amaechi and co. Enough is enough.”
Islefroch tweeted “Kai!! This won’t trend!! It’s all the nonsense that will trend. I pray and hope that someday Nigerians will wake-up to this reality soon. #TuesdayThoughts.”
KeneChukwu Okeke tweeted, “Life pensions or gratuities are constitutional by virtue of Section 124 (5), CFRN. However, we are yet to experience the quality leadership that deserves a life pension or gratuity for former Governors.”
SERAP had in January filed a lawsuit at the Federal High Court, Abuja, asking the court to order the 36 state governors to publish a breakdown of pensions being paid to former governors and other ex-officials under their respective state pension laws between 1999 and 2019.
It also asked the court to grant an order for leave to apply for judicial review and an order of mandamus to direct and/or comply with the order.
The body sought a declaration that “the failure of the 36 state governors to provide SERAP with the requested information on pension law in their respective states as requested constitutes a breach of SERAP’s right under the FoI Act, 2011, and for such further order(s) the court may deem fit to make in the circumstances.”
SERAP, in the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/19/2020, had written a Freedom of Information letter to all state governments requesting for details of the pensions paid to their ex-governors.
