Ex-SSG faults ministers receiving pension as former govs

Former governors who collect life pensions, exotic automobiles, and other advantages from their states while serving as ministers, according to Prof. Yahaya Kuta, a former secretary to the Niger State Government, face a moral weight.

Kuta advised the ministers to follow the example of Senator Gbenga Daniel, a former governor of Ogun State, who claimed to have written to the state administration to have his pension suspended ever since he was elected to the Senate.

In an interview with our correspondent on Saturday, the former SSG made this statement. The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, in particular, encouraged President Bola Tinubu to compel the former governors in his cabinet to stop collecting pensions before he spoke, as did other civil society organizations.

On Monday, Tinubu officially welcomed a group of former governors into his cabinet. They are Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Bello Matawalle (Zamfara), David Umahi (Ebonyi), Simon Lalong (Plateau), Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa), Adegboyega Oyetola (Osun), and Ibrahim Geidam (Yobe).

Former Senate President Dr. Bukola Saraki says he ceased getting pension payments from the state in August 2017 after serving as governor of Kwara State from 2003 to 2011. SERAP has praised the action.

“They should take a hint from Senator Gbenga Daniel who wrote his state governor to subsequently stop his pension from the state,” the former SSG observed.

The spirit is that! They don’t need to be informed since taking a double ration in a situation where your population are severely suffering from hunger, misery, and hopelessness is immoral.