RVHA Passes Bill On Gov’s Pension

Lawmakers of the 7th Assembly on Tuesday passed the bill for a law to provide pension and other fringe benefits to the Governor and Deputy Governor.

The proposed law which attracted heated debate finally got the nod of the Assembly after some amendments were suggested during deliberation in the floor of the Assembly.

Opposing the bill, Hon. Victor Ihunwo, representing Port Harcourt Constituency 111, said civil servants enjoy pension while politicians benefit from severance allowance payments at the expiration of tenure in office and advised the House to reject the proposed law.

Hon. Ihunwo said the House should not waste its time in debating about pension for a governor that served for four or eight years with all the attractive benefits accruing to him.

Disagreeing with the proposed law, Hon. Kelechi Nwogu, representing Omuma in the Assembly, called on the sponsor of the bill to withdraw it for repackaging because the accruable  benefits are outgrageous.

Hon. Nwogu, explained that since the person (s) considered here are former governors the building should have defined pattern and specifications to be located anywhere in the state as against any where in Nigeria.

Supporting the bill, Hon. Lucky Odili, ONELGA Constituency 11 noted that the law when operational will help to check corruption in the system while Hon. Michael Chinda, Obio/Akpor 11 cautioned that the benefits are over loaded while the accommodation should be in the state as a way reducing cost to a manageable level.

Hon. Golden Chioma, Etche Constituency 11, noted that the bill was an amendment to the principal law, number four of 2007 and suggested four personal staff as against policemen, while the benefits should be specific rather than leave it open ended.