Politics

Benue Assembly Repeals Life Pension Law for Former Governors and Deputies

Published by Tope Fakinlede on May 27th, 2024.

Benue Assembly Repeals Life Pension Law for Former Governors and Deputies

The Benue House of Assembly has repealed the law that granted lifetime maintenance to former governors and their deputies.

In May 2023, just four days before the end of his eight-year tenure, former Governor Samuel Ortom signed the lifetime maintenance bill into law. This legislation provided a monthly stipend for former governors and deputies, funded by the state’s consolidated revenue fund (CRF). The CRF is composed of revenue from sources such as pay-as-you-earn tax (PAYE), direct assessment, road taxes, and contributions from various ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).

The law prioritized the payment of these stipends over other financial obligations like salaries, pensions, and gratuities for citizens. It also entitled former governors to two official SUV cars and former deputy governors to one official SUV car, without specifying a cap on the expenditure for these vehicles.

During a plenary session on Monday, lawmakers decided to repeal the bill, citing that it was not enacted in good faith and was anti-people. The decision followed extensive contributions and agreement among the house members.