Adams
Oshiomhole has been blasted and condemned for his unreasonable plan to
enrich himself after the recent decision to amend the Pension Rights of
the Governor and Deputy Governor in Edo State while many unpaid
pensioners languish in poverty.
Former Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has
condemned the N300 million mansion retirement benefits for immediate
past governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, and his former deputy, Dr
Pius Odubu as immoral, unfair, unconstitutional, unreasonable, and a
rip-off on a massive scale against the people of Edo state.
SERAP called on the governor Godwin Obaseki to “immediately withdraw the bill, and use the funds to clear the backlog of pension arrears spanning between seven and 45 months.”
In a statement issued by the group on Thursday, following reports
of amendment of Law for Pension Rights of the Governor and Deputy
Governor by the Edo State House of Assembly, with the immediate past
governor and deputy governor expected to be some of the beneficiaries.
The new amendment contains the provision of residential buildings worth N200m and N100m for the governor and his deputy at the expiration of their tenures. The bill also provides that the buildings could be sited in any location of their choice.
In the statement dated 17 November 2016, SERAP executive director Adetokunbo Mumuni said: “Coming
at a time the Edo State government can’t even pay its pensioners and
salaries of workers, the amendment by the Edo State House of Assembly is
immoral, unfair, unconstitutional, unreasonable, and a rip-off on a
massive scale. Governor Obasaki must reject this grotesque bill if he’s
to fulfil his election promises and lift millions of Edo State
pensioners out of extreme poverty.
“This so-called proposed legislation means that millions of Edo
pensioners and workers will have to fund the massive and unjust
pensions for former governor Oshiomhole and his deputy and others that
will come after them.
“Many of the retirees whose pensions have not been paid have
been evicted from their apartments due to their inability to pay their
rents. According to SERAP’s information, one of such retirees is Ihama
Friday who at 60 is now squatting with friends. Another pensioner
Osa-Aighobarueghia who retired as a headteacher continues to live a life
of debts because the Edo State government has refused to pay her 30
months’ pension benefits.
“SERAP is aware that the Edo State government is not the only
state passing such obnoxious pension laws to provide outrageous
retirement benefits to former governors and deputy governors and that
many of them are already in the National Assembly receiving multiple
benefits and putting their personal bank accounts ahead of the common
good. SERAP is finalising a comprehensive legal strategy to challenge
these unjust laws and to name and shame those who continue to benefit
from such laws.
“Nigerians should not be made to subsidise these bloated
pensions and clearly undeserved perks. Governor Obaseki should not see
disadvantaged Nigerians and poor pensioners according to Orwell’s Animal
Farm dictum: ‘All animals are equal but some animals are more equal
than others’. Approving the amendment by the Edo State House of Assembly
will amount to a fundamental breach of the governor’s constitutional
oath declaration to serve the interest of justice, common good,
transparency and accountability.
“SERAP is appalled by this apparently unfair and discriminatory
law. There is absolutely no justification for such law at a time the
pensions systems across the country are in poor shape, and pensioners
continue to be denied the fruit of their labour. Former governors and
their deputies can’t lawfully give to themselves a steady stream of
public funds for life at a time millions of pensioners including in Edo
State face cut to their pension schemes and remain in poverty without
any state support.”
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