Story from Kenneth AFOR, Lagos
The Lagos State House of Assembly on Thursday has approved the report submitted by the House Committee on Establishment to cut the pension of former governors of the state by 50 per cent.
In a statement signed by Mr Eromosele Ebhomele, the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, the decision was taken after the adoption of the report by the committee.
The House also approved the repealing of the provision of accommodation for the ex-governors at choicest locations including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Former governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Babatunde Raji Fasola and Akinwunmi Ambode as well subsequent former governors will be denied the benefits.
Also, the House approved the reduction in the number of vehicles to be made available to former governors and their deputies.
According to the Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa, speaking on the decision taken by the House, former governors should get two vehicles (a car and a van) instead of three as recommended by the committee.
He also suggested that the amended bill should provide that the cars be changed every four years instead of the three years recommended by the report.
“By virtue of my office, I have seen former Speakers who we just had to intervene in their lives because of the situations they found themselves in outside the office. We have also seen former governors in a very bad situation,” he said.
Obasa noted the argument of his colleagues that the projected downward review of the pension for the former governors and others could also be affected by inflation and other economic considerations but reminded that the House must meet the wishes of the people one of which is a cut in the cost of governance.
“There is no argument, we must realise that this is democracy and it is all about the people. We are here because of the people. When we represent people, it is good for us to listen to them as well.
“We must realise that we would always go back to the people for support. So when we hearken to their agitations and reduce what existed, it shows that we listen,” Obasa told his colleagues adding that his suggestion for further reduction of the number of cars was because “as you age, your needs continue to decrease.”
