Obasanjo Lauds Otti For Signing Law Stopping Ex-Governors, Deputy Govs Pension

The bill which abrogates pension payments to former governors and deputies in Abia State has been signed by Governor Alex Otti.

Osun Defender reports that the Abia House of Assembly on Tuesday, passed the bill for a law to repeal ‘The Abia State Governors & Deputy Governors Pensions Law No 4 of 2001’.

The bill was sponsored by the lawmaker representing the Arochukwu constituency, Okoro Uchenna Kalu.

Former Abia governor, Orji Uzor Kalu, approved the law in 2001.

The law stipulates that former Abia governors and deputies are entitled to 100 per cent of the annual basic salaries of the incumbent governor and deputy.

It also specified that their cooks, stewards, drivers, and gardeners are to be paid by the state; and are entitled to three police officers and two operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).

Otti while speaking after the signing of the bill, said the new law was designed to promote good governance and stewardship in the state.

Otti while lauding the state lawmakers for their diligence and selfless service in working on the executive bill, said leadership should be about stewardship and not a means to embezzle public funds.

He expressed satisfaction with the relationship between the executive and legislature.

“Government is not about self-interest, it is actually self-interest that destroys government,” Otti said.

The governor said priority should be given to public interest during the formulation of policies.

He added that pensioners are the ones who need the funds the most and not former governors and deputies.

Meanwhile, former President Olusegun Obasanjo has commended Otti for assenting to the Abia State of Nigeria Governors and Deputy Governors Pension Repeal Law.

Obasanjo called on Nigerian Governors to follow the footstep of Otti, especially in the aspect of good governance, to make Nigeria great.

Obasanjo made the commendation on Friday when he paid a visit to the governor in Nvosi Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area.

He said, “I saw the repeal of Abia pensions of former governors; you said to me that the pension scheme for former governors here is too outrageous.

“It allows them to have a house in Abuja and elsewhere, and it allows them to cart away with whatever they can.

“Yet the pensions of ordinary people from 2014 are unpaid’ and you came and said there will be an end to that rascality.”