Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has received kudos from former governor of Lagos State and National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, over his plan to repeal the Lagos State law that ensures life pensions for former governors and deputy governors of the State of Aquatic Splendour.
In a series of tweets on Wednesday, Tinubu said, “Congratulations to Governor Sanwo-Olu over the 2021 budget which he appropriately christened ‘Budget of Rekindled Hope’. This audacious and enterprising budget will empower our people and begin to rebuild Lagos State.
“In particular, I would also like to commend the governor for the plan to commence the repeal of the pension law giving pension packages to former governors and their deputies. This is a bold and courageous move by Mr. Governor and I wholeheartedly support him. I encourage all APC loyalists to do the same.”
Recall that shortly before Tinubu left office in 2007, he signed the Public Office Holder (Payment of Pension) Law No 11 official Gazette of Lagos State, 2007, which states that former governors of Lagos State are entitled to a house in Lagos and Abuja, in any location of their choice.
The state government has built houses for former governors of the state in Lagos and Abuja in line with the law.
A house was bought for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in Ikoyi and the Asokoro area of Abuja next to the Lagos State Governor’s Lodge.
The law provides that former governors are entitled to other fringe benefits, including: a house in any location in Lagos State; six brand new cars every three years; 100 per cent of the basic salary of the serving governor, (N7.7m per annum;) free health care for himself and members of his family.
The law equally provided that a former governor will be entitled to 300 per cent of their annual basic salary as furniture allowance, (N23.3m); 10 per cent of the annual basic salary as house maintenance allowance, (N778, 296); 20 per cent of the basic alary as utility allowance (N1.5m) and 30 per cent of the basic salary as car maintenance allowance, (N2.3m).
Other benefits provided for in the law for former governors include: 10 per cent as an entertainment allowance, (N778,296), and a personal assistant, who will earn 25 per cent of the governor’s annual basic salary (N1.9m).
Other perks provided for in the law are: domestic workers comprising a cook, a steward, a gardener, and others whose appointments are pensionable. A former governor is also entitled to eight policemen and two officials of the Department of State Services, DSS, for life, according to the Lagos law.
