The Lagos State House of Assembly says it is making moves to reduce ex-governor's pensions in the state. The Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, at a parley wit
The Lagos State House of Assembly says it is making moves to reduce ex-governor’s pensions in the state. The Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, at a parley with civil society organisations, explained that the action was to save money.
He said, “This House is amending the Public Office Holder (Payment of Pension) Law. The amendment is titled, Public Office Holders (Payment of Pensions) Amendment Bill, 2016. The bill has been read first time and awaiting second reading. The bill is to save taxpayers’ money from the ex-governor’s pensions while addressing the cost implication of some parts of the law.
For instance, the law allows a former governor and the deputy to have a house each in Lagos and Abuja, while both governor and the deputy are also entitled to six and five vehicles respectively.
“But with the amendment, both the governor and the deputy will be limited to a house in Lagos where they served, as well as have three and two vehicles respectively. At the same time, the amendment seeks to accord due recognition to the legislature by allowing the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker to benefit in the pension.”
Obasa, said the parley, which was also a part of the celebration of the second anniversary of the eighth Assembly, was aimed at presenting the Assembly’s scorecard in the last one year to Lagosians.
He added, “For the purpose of record, this House passed eight bills into laws in the second session, while 72 resolutions were made. Other bills are at various stages of passage, one of which is the bill targeted at tackling cancer. The resolutions and laws are those that border on the welfare of the people living in Lagos.
“For instance, the Neighbourhood Watch Law of 1996 was repealed by the House of Assembly in the second session and signed into law as the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Law, 2016. The aim of this law is to prevent emerging highbrow crimes like kidnapping and terrorism from taking root in Lagos.”
Punch
