Activist On Delta Bill Granting Pension To Ag. Gov: The Bunch Of Irresponsible Delta Lawmakers Have Finally Lost Their Minds

Zik Gbemre, a rights activist and National Coordinator, Niger Delta Peace Coalition, says the Delta state House of Assembly members have lost their minds with the passage of the controversial amended bill granting pension to a former acting governor of the state.

BIGPEN ONLINE reports that the former acting governor, Sam Obi is the subject matter of the amended bill which was read first, second, third times and passed on Wednesday amidst controversy.

Obi who was Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly in 2007, acted as governor in 2010 for only six weeks when former governor Emmanuel Uduaghan’s election was annulled by the Court of Appeal in Benin and a re-run election was conducted. 

The House’s Majority Leader, Tim Owhofere sponsored the bill which is an amendment of an earlier executive bill which guaranteed pension rights of governors and deputy governors in the state.

But Gbemre, in his reaction said, “with regards to this report, there is no better way to describe Delta State House of Assembly members, other than the fact that they are nothing but irresponsible bunch of lawmakers.

“These lawmakers only think of their welfare and that of the welfare of the political leaders in the State. But they have refused to think of the welfare of the ordinary people that supposedly elected them into their offices. They are happy that political leaders keep getting richer by the day, at the expense of the poor people.

“Our Delta state lawmakers, are not only irresponsible, but they are also a bunch of people who have lost their minds. How can a reasonable set of people supposedly elected to represent the interest of their people, be more comfortable and concerned about making political leaders richer, while the poor people they are meant to serve, are left to starve.

“Well, if they like, let them budget all the available State’s money to pay the few politicians in the State. They should however be reminded that posterity will not forgive them, or forget the atrocities they have committed while in office, which have made life more miserable for all. These lawmakers have simply lost their minds”, Gbemre reiterated.

Also, in their earlier reaction, the Delta State chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) described the bill as a move to further plunder the treasury and subject Deltans to abject poverty.

Publicity Secretary of the APC, Sylvester Imonina, said that the bill “is a day light robbery, as the former Speaker enjoys the benefits and entitlements of a former Speaker in accordance with the law”.

While passing the bill, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, said the Pension Rights and Other Benefits Law for former Governors, Deputy Governors and now Acting Governors is a constitutional entitlement of the beneficiaries, insisting that members carefully scrutinized the bill before its passage.

Addressing newsmen, the Majority Leader of the House and Chairman, House Committee on Information, Hon. Tim Owhefere, said until the constitution is amended every state House of Assembly has constitutional powers to make such law.

Owhefere noted that despite the alleged abuse of the pension law by some State Houses of Assembly in collaboration with their Governors, Delta State House of Assembly have continued to remained focus in doing the right thing.

He said some states approved jumbo amounts running into millions as pension for their former governors, but the monthly take home pay for the former Chief Executive in Delta State is about N450,000 (Four hundred and fifty thousand naira), while that of Acting Governor is N350,000 (Three Hundred and fifty thousand naira).

According to the lawmaker, the bill was only amended to accommodate the position of former Acting Governor, explaining that the monthly take home pay of the former acting governor would be a little higher than that of a retired Permanent Secretary who also received salary for life.

The Majority Leader explained that the amended law does not make provision for gratuity for former Acting Governor as he has collected severance allowance as former Speaker of the State Legislature.

When reminded that such law was recently repealed in Zamfara state, Owhefere retorted that “politics” played more role in that issue than what the constitution provided, insisting that the pension rights is guaranteed by the constitution.

He noted that someone who had made sacrifices for the service of the State should be taken care of and advised against any form of sentiments on the matter.

 He assured Deltans of the continued resolved of the Delta State House of Assembly in making laws that promotes peace and good governance of the state.

BIGPEN ONLINE understands that with the passage of the amended bill which is expected to be sign into law soon by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, Obi will now be entitled to a well-furnished five bedroom duplex in Delta State and any other state in Nigeria worth over N300m.

Also, a well-furnished and equipped office in any location of the state of his choice, two armed policemen and one State Security officer not below the rank of a DSO.

Like others, he will be entitled to two vehicles every two years, which must not be below the sum of N20m each, one of them must be a utility vehicle. 

He will also enjoy free medical treatment with members of his immediate family within and outside Nigeria, 15 days annual vacation anywhere within and outside Nigeria among others.