A bill for a law to provide life pensions for former governors and deputy governors of Enugu state has scaled through first reading at the Enugu State House of Assembly
The Executive bill, which was presented for first reading during the plenary in Enugu on Thursday, seeks to provide pensions for governors and deputy governors after serving out their tenures in office.
The piece of legislation would make former governors or deputy governors entitled to receive gratuity as well as pension for life at the expense of the state government.
The bill also makes provision for medical allowances not exceeding N12,000,000 per annum for one surviving spouse, provided that such spouse was married to the governor or deputy governor while in office.
While the state government would provide adequate security for the past governors for their lifetime, the bill when passed would also mandate the state government to provide three vehicles to the governors and replace them every four years.
“A person who had held office as elected governor or deputy governor in Enugu state or any other state should be entitled to pension for life.
“The entitlement to the pension should be provided that such a person was not removed from office by the process of impeachment.
“When a former governor or former deputy governor dies, the state government should make adequate arrangement and bear the financial responsibility for his burial.
“The state government should pay a condolence allowance of a sum equivalent to the annual basic salary of the incumbent to his next of kin.
In his remark, the deputy speaker of the House, Uche Ugwu, who presided over the plenary asked his colleague to properly study the bill in order to make robust contribution during the second reading of the bill.
The House thereafter adjourned its plenary to Tuesday, March 16, 2021.
