The Benue State House of Assembly has repealed the law to make provisions for the maintenance of former elected governors of the state and their deputies.
The lawmakers took the decision today during the plenary presided over by Speaker Chief Hyacinth Aondona Dajoh.
Presenting the report on the floor of the house, Chairman of the House Standing Committee on Appointment, Public Service, and Pension Matters, Hon. Douglas Akya, representing Makurdi South State Constituency, said the finances of the state could not guarantee the implementation of the law.
He said the bill was not in the best interest of the state and recommended that the law be repealed.
He expressed appreciation to the House for giving the committee the opportunity to serve in that capacity.
Other members who contributed to the repeal of the law expressed happiness over the findings of the committee, saying the law was anti-people and needed to be repealed.
They described the law as anti-mass, adding that the repeal was coming at the right time.
It will be recalled that the immediate past governor, Samuel Ortom, towards the end of his tenure, initiated a bill to provide life pensions for all former governors and their deputies since 1999.
The bill, which was hurriedly assented to by the governor on the eve of his exit, provided for the payment of a stipend of N40 million in four months in addition to the provision of two (2) Special Utility Vehicles (SUVs).
The law also provided for six stewards to a former governor, while a former deputy was to be entitled to N25 million as a stipend in four months, 1 SUV vehicle, and three stewards.
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