The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has vowed to approach a court to seek an order restraining former Nigerian governors particularly those serving as ministers from accessing life pensions.
SERAP stated on Friday via its X (formerly Twitter) verified page that it will be a waste of public funds for the former governors to still be paid life pensions while serving as ministers and being paid by President Bola Tinubu’s government.
The statement reads: “We’re suing to block former governors Wike, Umahi, Badaru, Matawalle, Lalong, Oyetola, Bagudu and Gaidam from receiving life pensions, free health care, exotic cars and other allowances from their states while serving as ministers.”
At least, 17 former state governors who handed over to their successors on May 29, 2023, have started receiving bumper benefits from their respective states, despite economic crises, rising debts, and underpaid workers and pensioners.
Former governors Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta), Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom), Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano), Badaru Abubakar (Jigawa), Bello Matawalle (Zamfara), Ben Ayade (Cross River), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and David Umahi (Ebonyi) are some enjoying the bumper life pensions, exotic cars, new houses and free health-care services.
Others are Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Samuel Ortom, Darius Ishaku, Abubakar Bello, Abubakar Bagudu, Nasir El-Rufai, Simon Lalong, Aminu Masari and Aminu Tambuwal of Enugu, Benue, Taraba, Niger, Kebbi, Kaduna, Plateau, Katsina and Sokoto states respectively.
Bola Tinubu on Wednesday, August 16 assigned Wike the portfolio as the minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), Umahi as his minister of works and Matawalle as the Minister of State for Defence, among others.
The Ministers-designate will be sworn into office on Monday, August 21.
