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“If the immediate-past governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, his Ebonyi State counterpart, David Umahi, alongside others, are allowed to continue collecting life pensions, exotic cars and other allowances from their states while they serve as ministers, we would go to court”.
The above was the submission of a Lagos-based human rights group, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) which further stated that the step would be taken within seven (7) days.
In specific terms, SERAP urged President Tinubu to, “Publicly instruct the former governors who are now serving as ministers in your administration to stop collecting life pensions, exotic cars and other allowances from their states while they serve as ministers”.
The group further asked the president to “Instruct the former governors to immediately return any pension and allowances that they may have collected since leaving office to the public treasury”.
SERAP in a statement dated August 20, 2023, and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, listed the affected former governors who are now ministers in the Tinubu administration to include Badaru Abubakar, Nyesom Wike, Bello Matawalle, Adegboyega Oyetola, and David Umahi.
Others, according to SERAP, are Simon Lalong, Atiku Bagudu; and Ibrahim Geidam.
Referencing its letter dated August 19, 2023, the group insisted that the appointment of former governors who collect life pensions while serving as ministers is implicitly forbidden by the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] and the country’s international legal obligations.
According to SERAP, "You would be acting in the public interest by stopping former governors now serving as ministers in your government from collecting life pensions, especially given the current grave economic realities in the country.
“If the ministers that the president appoints are those who collect life pensions rather than serve the public interest, then that may show little about the conduct and integrity of the ministers, but speak volumes about the exercise of the presidential power of appointment.
“Nigerians will judge you in part by the conduct, integrity, and honesty of the ministers that you appoint to work in your government. Ultimately, the success of your government would depend on the conduct of the ministers that you appoint."
While expressing sadness that many pensioners have not been paid their pensions, SERAP berated a situation where former governors serving as ministers get paid huge severance benefits upon leaving office, and are poised to enjoy double emoluments on top of the opulence of political office holders.
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