Reducing Cost Of Governance: Abia Lawmakers’ Example 

In the words of the famous entrepreneur and author, Jason Fried, “What you do is what matters, not what you think or say or plan.” The former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Teresa May would always say that, “I am a great believer in action, not words.”
Indeed, action surpasses the impact of mere words. It helps in truly understanding someone’s intention, values and character.
In the current harsh economic situation facing Nigeria, a lot has been heard from the authorities on how they plan to revive the ailing economy, how they intend to cushion the effects of the hardship on the citizens without commensurate actions to show for it.
Many of the leaders and their families are still living large, they run the affairs of the nation on a very high scale, yet they have become experts in appealing to the citizens to be patient with administration that there will be light at the end of the tunnel.
That is why the recent action of the Abia State House of Assembly is most commendable.  The lawmakers on Tuesday, March 19 passed a bill to stop the payment of pensions to former governors and their deputies in the state.
It is titled “A Bill (H.A.B 11:) for a Law to Revoke The Abia State Governors and Deputy Governors Pensions Law No 4 of 2001 and for other Matters connected therewith.” The 2001 Pension Law for former governors and deputy governors of the state has provided that a former governor is entitled to 100 per cent of his salary and official vehicles worth N20million to be replaced every four years, a police orderly, two operatives of the Department of State Service, two policemen for the security of his house, as well as allowances for cooks, stewards, driver and gardener, while his deputy will enjoy similar benefits.
The law also made provision for medical attention for the former governors and their deputies;  that former governors are entitled to “the sum of money as may from time to time be granted by the state government by way of pensions, allowances and privileges in accordance with this law.”
According to the Speaker, Emmanuel Emeruwa, the bill would reduce the state’s governance expenses and redirect resources toward development.
With this, Abia becomes the latest state to repeal the “scandalous pension” for some ex-governors in Nigeria, if I may borrow the words of the renowned Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN.
Imo, Kwara, Zamfara States had done the same. Many other states like Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Ekiti, Katsina, Gombe are yet to repeal the life pension law for ex-governors and deputies. All the former governors and their deputies are still milking their states.
In Gombe State, for instance,  the Executive Pension Law is said to provide a monthly salary for life to all former governors and deputy governors. An ex-governor is also entitled to a 30-day paid travel expenses annually to any country of his choice alongside his wife, so also the deputy governor and his wife.
They can ask for a befitting house of their choice at any location in the state, or may request that money equivalent to such a house be given to them. A former governor is also entitled to two utility cars, while his deputy is entitled to one car to be replaced periodically. The governor is entitled to an employee on level 12 who will be serving him, also to be paid by the state government.
Both the governor, deputy governor and their wives are entitled to paid medical treatment at home or abroad. The state executive pension law also states that a governor and his deputy serving their second term can pay themselves the housing and gratuity if they have successfully finished one term in office.
All these, because they “served” their states for four years or at most eight years.  Meanwhile, workers in some of these states are still being owed many months’ salaries and arrears. Many states are not paying the minimum wage of N30, 000, 00. Civil servants are not being promoted. Retirees are not paid their pensions and gratuities. Many pensioners have slumped and died during verification exercises to enable them collect the paltry sum.
It is on record that not less than 14 former governors secured seats in the current 10th Senate.  Six former ministers, some of whom had previously served as state governors are in the Red Chamber.  The National Assembly has long become what many describe as the retirement home for governors and deputy governors. Some ex-governors have graduated to become presidents, vice presidents and what have you.
As they are resting there, enjoying the humongous allowances and salaries, after years of siphoning state funds without accountability, they milk the states for life in the form of pension
Little wonder the famous Kenyan Pan-Africanist Advocate, Prof Patrick Lumumba, said that African politicians are a curse to the continent. His words, “The Africa’s politicians are perhaps (with due respect to them), Africa’s curse. The day the African politician realises that the occupation of political office and political space is one of servant leadership, that is the day Africa will begin to move in the right direction.”
With great endowments in human and natural resources, in addition to vast agricultural potentials, the nation should have been Africa’s undisputed economic giant, a dream country where at least the basic needs of the people are adequately catered for. But the ceaseless plunder of the national and state treasuries by public office holders has made living in the land hellish – no food, epileptic power supply, insecurity everywhere, no good roads, no water and all that. The recent removal of fuel subsidy has worsened the situation. Many poor citizens can hardly breathe.
So, it is high time Assembly members in  Akwa Ibom, Edo and other states that are yet to abolish payment of gratuity, pension to former governors and their deputies did the needful. As has been pointed out by many, the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has not provide for life pension for governors. As cited by Falana, the court in  Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) v Attorney-General of the Federation, (Suit No. FHC/L/CS/1497/2017 and Alhaji Garba Umar v Taraba State Government (Suit No: NICN/JOS/26/2016, the Federal High Court and the National Industrial Court declared as null and void the payment of pension and gratuity to former governors and deputy governors.
So, why are some states adamant on continuing with the practice? The state lawmakers allowed themselves to be used to make these laws that are against the interest of the states and the generality of the people. They should be courageous and patriotic enough to review these benefits or repeal them altogether as a means to cut down on the cost of governance
If these elected office holders are desirous of enjoying pensions and gratuity like the civil servants, they should be placed on the same salary scale with the civil servants based on their academic qualifications. The act of spending the little resources of the states to better the lives of politicians at the detriment of the state must stop. Leadership must be seen as an opportunity to contribute to the growth and development of one’s state and the nation instead of plunging them into a coma.
Public office holders across the three tiers of government should come down from their high horses and begin to conduct their affairs in accordance with the current economic realities of the country. Now, more than ever before, there is a need to cut down the cost of governance and block all the conduit pipes of wastage that are draining the nation’s economy and put the money into useful ventures.
Most importantly, let actions begin to speak louder than words as it concerns reduction of cost of governance, reviving the nation’s ailing economy and making life better for the citizens.

By: Calista Ezeaku