Scrapping Abia ex-gov pension needless, we never benefited

The Abia State House of Assembly has repealed the Abia State Governor’s and Deputy Governor’s Pensions Law number 4 of 2021.

A principal officer of the House of Assembly said the repealed law provided for security, medicals, cooks and stewards, among others for the former governors.

According to the officer, the pension amount, which is for life,  will be determined by the incumbent governor, adding “on death, the state government will pay the family an amount equal to the deceased annual salary. All these are at the expense of the government.”

However, former governors and deputies of the state, including Orji Uzor Kalu, Theodore Orji and Okezie Ikpeazu have frowned on the law, stating that none of them had been receiving any pensions.

Reacting to the Assembly’s decision, one of Kalu’s aides  said, “As a former governor of the state, T. A. Orji did not pay him (Kalu) a dime as pension and Okezie Ikpeazu continued in the same manner.”

Similarly, Theodore Orji’s  Liaison Officer,  Ifeanyi Umere, said the ex-governor had not been receiving a pension.

“Throughout as the governor of Abia for eight years, T. A. Orji has not received any penny as pension,” he said, calling on the state Assembly to come out with any evidence available to them.

Similarly,  Ikpeazu expressed disgust over the law, describing it as “obviously sponsored,” and “mischievously couched to give the false impression that Dr Ikpeazu is among former governors of the state currently receiving a pension from the Abia State Government”.

The bill titled “H.A.B 11, The Abia State Governor’s and Deputy Governor’s Pensions Law Repeal Bill 2024,” was sponsored by the Majority Leader and member for Arochukwu State Constituency, Mr Okoro Uchenna Kalu.

Speaking while announcing the passage of the bill, the Speaker, Chief Emmanuel Emeruwa, commended his colleagues for their understanding and cooperation adding that it was in line with the yearnings of the majority.

Leading the debate on the floor of the House, the sponsor of the bill and Majority Leader, Mr Okoro  Kalu, described the bill as timely, saying it would help reduce the cost of governance, free funds for the development of the state and the welfare of the greater majority of the people.

But Ikpeazu’s spokesman, Ememanka, in a statement on Wednesday, said, “The attention of the immediate past Governor of Abia State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, has been drawn to reports circulating online to the effect that the Abia State House of Assembly has repealed the 2001 law under which former governors and deputy governors are paid some money as pension.

“The said reports, which are obviously sponsored, are mischievously couched to give the false impression that Dr Ikpeazu is amongst former governors of the state currently receiving a pension from the Abia State Government.

“Dr Okezie Ikpeazu wishes to make it abundantly clear that since after handing over the reins of power as Governor of Abia State on May 29th, 2023, he has neither requested for, nor received from the Abia State Government, any dime under any guise whatsoever, and has no intentions of doing so.

“Former governor Ikpeazu has since moved on with his life and is currently engaged in other areas of interest to him and advises the Abia State Government and her various organs to face the business of governance and desist from engaging in needless media sensationalism.”

Also speaking, the immediate past Deputy Governor,  Ude Oko Chukwu, said, “Nobody has given me a dime. I am aware of the law. For me, it (the law) is as good as not being there. If all past governors said they have not been paid anything, what is the essence of the existence of the law?”

Meanwhile, the Deputy Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly and Chairman, House Committee on Media and Information, Chief Augustine Okezie, has lauded his colleagues for the accelerated hearing and passage of the Abia State Governor’s and Deputy Governor’s Pensions Law Repeal Bill, 2024.

Speaking shortly after the passage of the bill, the Deputy Speaker, who had during plenary thrown his weight behind the passage of the bill, said the decision was a reflection of the wishes of the people of Abia State.

Okezie, who represents Umuahia East State Constituency in the House, also commended Governor Alex Otti, a potential beneficiary of the law, for not interfering in the process.