A move to cut down the cost of governance in Abia State has hit new milestones as the bill to repeal former governors and deputy governors’ pensions a
A move to cut down the cost of governance in Abia State has hit new milestones as the bill to repeal former governors and deputy governors’ pensions and other entitlements has been passed by the State Assembly.
By implication, the three past governors, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, ex-Senator Theodore Orji and Okezie Ikpeazu will no longer earn their pensions and other entitlements.
But the bill is subject to the approval of the state governor, Alex Otti.
The development was revealed by the House Member Representing Arochukwu State Constituency, Uchenna Okoro shortly after the plenary on Tuesday.
The bill, ‘H.A.B 11: a Bill for a Law to Repeal the Abia State Governors & Deputy Governors Pensions Law No 4 of 2001 and for other Matters’ was sponsored by the member representing Arochukwu State Constituency, Kalu.
The bill which scaled first, second and third readings aims at removing ‘outrageous’ spending on retired governors and their deputies by the State.
The lawmaker who was delighted with the passage of the bill said it was in line with the agenda of Governor Otti-led government to reduce the cost of governance in the state.
Kalu explained that there are pensioners who spent years serving the state who are still struggling to receive their pensions while former governors enjoy entitlements worth billions monthly.
“We did not amended the bill, we scrapped it completely. The bill is about past governors who are not in active service receiving pensions and other entitlements after serving for four years. They are paid by the state every month, so we had to repeal it. So, it no longer stands. When you are done with your tenure, just go home because nobody is paying you anything.
“We cannot have backlogs of pensioners who are not receiving payments and people in active service not being paid and past governors and their deputies are pocketing billions while the money is supposed to be for state development and payment of civil servants.”
Recall that Otti said he inherited backlogs of pensions and salaries being owed by retired and active civil servants in the state.
Another bill that was presented to the house was bill H.A.B 10 which is the ‘Bill for A Law to Establish the Abia State Cocoa Development and Marketing Board Bill 2024’.
The bill was sponsored by the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Augustin Okezie passed for its first reading on the floor of the house.
The bill was successfully passed into law by the Assembly Members.
The State Assembly also considered the H.A.B 9, a ‘Bill for a Law to Establish Colleges of Nursing Sciences Owned by Faith-Based and Private Establishments in Abia State and for other related purposes.’
According to Hon Kalu, the bill which was sponsored by the Chief Whip of the house, Hon. Emeka Obioma (Umuahia South) passed for its second reading on the floor of the house.
He added, “The bill was committed to the House Committee on Health which was mandated to conduct a public hearing on the Bill and to revert to the house in a month for further legislative actions.”
