Governor of Akwa Ibom, AKPABIO to receive N5m monthly and N100M per annual for medical care after leaving office for life – Controversial Pension Bill 2014. CRAZY!

The Akwa Ibom House of Assembly on Monday passed former Governor and Deputy Governor’s Pension Bill 2014 into law.

The executive bill, which had earlier passed the first and second reading, was presented for deliberations at committee of the whole at plenary.

The bill seeks a pension for life at a rate equivalent to the salary of the incumbent governor to a former governor and deputy.

The law also provides for a former governor   a sum not exceeding N5 million per month to employ domestic staff while the deputy gets N2.5 million for the same purpose.

A former governor will also be entitled to free medical services for himself his spouse at a sum not exceeding N100 million per annum and N50 million for a former deputy governor.

The bill also seeks to provide for a former governor a befitting accommodation not below a 5- bed room maisonette in either Abuja or Akwa Ibom.

The bill also provides for yearly accommodation allowance of 300 per cent of annual basic salary for an ex-deputy governor.

A former governor will also receive a severance gratuity of 300 per cent of annual basic salary as at the time he leaves office.

After a debate by members, the deputy house leader Dr Ekaete Okon (PDP) moved a motion for the bill to be read the third time and passed into law.

The motion was seconded by Mr Aniekan Akpan (PDP-Ukanafun).

After the passage the Speaker, Mr Samuel Ikon, directed the clerk of the House to forward a clean copy of the bill to the governor.

Under the new law, Mr. Akpabio is also entitled to a mansion, new official car and a utility vehicle once in every four years, one personal aide and the provision of adequate security for his person.

The Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio, has defended his N200 million annual pay retirement perks, saying the new law was in the interest of the state.

Speaking through the state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Aniekan Umana, Mr. Akpabio said he merely amended an existing law to check wastage of public funds.

Mr. Umana spoke on a programme on Planet FM, a private radio station in Uyo,

The commissioner is quoted to have said, “The bill is simply an amendment to the law enacted in 2006. It exists in several states. What the bill seeks to achieve is limit endless medical expenditure.

“The old law didn’t put any cap on medical expenditure. There was no limit. But the governor in his own wisdom decided it was important we put a ceiling so that we don’t make it open ended any more.

“The governor is not seeking an amendment in his own interest; rather it is in the interest of the state because if you leave expenditure open ended it means you can spend close to N500million in one year without anybody stopping you since there is no law.

“People must also understand that medical expenses provision is not a payment. It is not as if you have access to it. There are procedures before you can get it.”

The only thing I want to say is, Is this for real, are you kidding me! If this was April, i would have said "its April Fool" but we are in May. What kind of country are we living in. Just look at the way they are calling money. 50 million, 100 million, Lord! This is just crazy. Am not going to comment on this madness in power. I rest my case. Go ahead governor.

No, let me talk. Even the President of America does not receive these kinds of benefits especially after he leaves power, or is Akpabio saying he is doing more than the President of America or Nigeria for that matter?

I am becoming tired of defending the Nigerian course. Because every time I try analysing something that is done by a person in power, another person in power comes up with something even sillier or ridiculous than the previous one. But this Akpabio own’s takes the cake, It’s indeed the MOTHER OF ALL THINGS EVER CALLED PENSION.