The Abia State House of Assembly passed a bill on Tuesday to end the payment of pensions to ex-governors and their deputies in the state.
The bill is titled, “A Bill (H.A.B 11:) for a Law to Repeal The Abia State Governors and Deputy Governors Pensions Law No 4 of 2001 and for other Matters connected therewith.”
Mr Uchanna Okoro, the Majority Leader and member representing Arochukwu State Constituency, sponsored the bill.
After the first, second reading, consideration at the committee of the whole, and its third reading during the day’s plenary, the Speaker, Mr Emmanuel Emeruwa, announced the passage of the bill.
Emeruwa, while congratulating members, said the bill would reduce the state’s governance expenses and redirect resources toward development.
He mentioned that once assented to by the governor, the bill would be called “Abia State Governors and Deputy Governor’s (Repeal) Law 2024.”
The speaker stated that the bill would take effect immediately on Tuesday, March 19, 2024.
The News Agency of Nigeria reported that with the bill, former governors and their deputies would no longer receive pension benefits after their tenures have ended.
NAN also reported that there had been much controversy over the years about the extravagant lifetime perks and other desirable benefits being paid to the governors and their deputies.
While some states had tried to revoke the law, many states did not make much effort to do so.
NAN
