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Nigerian Senator Gbenga Daniel, a former governor of Ogun State, has brought to the front burner of public discourse, a conversation which, surely, must be uncomfortable for his colleagues who have benefitted – or in line to benefit – from double pay to the detriment of the Nigerian people.
Daniel has asked for the suspension of his pension as a former governor while he serves and earns in the senate.
In a letter dated 14th of June, Daniel said receiving pension as a governor and salary as a senator is against his moral principle and ethical code.
The letter read “I write to request for the suspension of my monthly pension/allowances of 676,376.95 (gross) (Six Hundred and Seventy-Six Thousand, Three Hundred Seventy-Six Naira, Ninety-Five Kobo) being paid as a former Executive Governor of Ogun State.
“This request is in compliance with my conscience, moral principle and ethical code against double emoluments that a serving Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who hitherto was a former State Governor, shall not be entitled to the payment of pension and allowances from such State.
“It would be recalled that on Tuesday 13th June 2023, I was, with other elected Senators and Members of the House of Representatives, inaugurated as members of the 10th National Assembly.
“It is pertinent to also have it on record that since I left the office in 2011, I have not benefited from any welfare packages be it nedical, furniture, transportation, etc…”
While Daniel’s action is commendable, it doesn’t feel right that he has the choice to continue receiving a pension paid for by taxpayers, while still in the employ of the same Nigerian people he is in government to serve.
This especially considering the times, with an already impoverished Nigerian populace asked by the government of President Bola Tinubu to make sacrifices, following a spike in the cost of living precipitated by a hike in petrol prices.
The reduction in the purchasing power of the average Nigerian means the searchlight has been turned fully on government officials.
Many have called for a reduction in the cost of governance, from pruning the number of aides, to slashing the number of cars in gas-guzzling convoys. Others have asked government officials to take a pay cut.
It is against this backdrop, that Daniel’s letter gained traction after he published it on his twitter account.
Apart from Daniel, other former governors currently in the Senate include Senate President, Godswill Akpabio (Akwa-Ibom State); Adams Oshiomhole (Edo State); Adamu Aliero (Kebbi State); Dave Umahi (Ebonyi State); Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto State); and Abubakar Sani Bello (Niger State).
Others are: Ibrahim Danwkambo (Gombe State); Danjuma Goje (Gombe State); Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara State); Gbenga Daniel (Ogun State); Aliyu Wammako (Sokoto State); Orji Kalu (Abia State); Ibrahim Gaidam (Yobe State); and Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa State).
Many of the states paying outrageous life pensions to their former governors (and their deputies) still owe workers’ salaries and remain among the poorest in the country.
Recently, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) urged Akpabio and the 13 others, to disclose the total amount of life pensions, if any, that have been received from their states as former governors.
SERAP also urged them to stop collecting any such pensions and return the pensions collected to the treasury.
SERAP said the lawmakers’ constitutional oath of office, under the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) “requires you to publicly reject and return any pensions.”
SERAP said, “Public function means activities in the public interest, not against it. The alleged collection by former governors of life pensions from their respective states amounts to private self-interest. It is also detrimental to the public interest.”
According to SERAP, “Collecting life pensions as former governors while in the Senate would clearly violate constitutional provisions and amount to taking advantage of entrusted public positions.
“Ending the practice of former governors in the Senate collecting life pensions from their states would improve public confidence in the integrity and honesty of the National Assembly. It would show that the Senate can focus on serving the public interest rather than looking after themselves.
“We urge you to emulate former Senate President Dr. Bukola Saraki, who stopped collecting life pension as a former governor of Kwara State and described life pensions by former governors as ‘immoral’, following a request by SERAP.
“SERAP also urges you to redirect any life pensions collected to fund and facilitate access of poor Nigerian children in your state to quality education, to reduce the number of out-of-school children.”
SERAP continued that life pensions for former governors serving as senators are entirely inconsistent and incompatible with the constitutional oath of office and the object and purpose of the UN Convention against Corruption, which implicitly prohibits large severance benefits for public officials such as former governors.
It is important to note that those who have benefitted and might be in line to benefit from double emoluments are not just former governors or their deputies who have “retired” to the National Assembly.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima and Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume are also potential beneficiaries, while the pending ministerial list will most likely add to this number.
Without them categorically coming out to say that they have given up their pensions, the assumption will be that these officials are feeding fat off the Nigerian people by earning double pay, while the citizenry suffer.
Daniel’s action, beyond the exemplary recommendation, should spur the National Assembly into passing the appropriate legislation to institutionalise this laudable gesture.
Chioma Kalu
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