Enugu: Former governors, deputies to earn pensions for life

Enugu State House of Assembly on Tuesday passed the Amended Gubernatorial Pension Bill meant to give life pension to politically elected governors and their deputies.

Presenting the bill for its third reading, the Leader of the House, Mr Ikechukwu Ezeugwu, said the bill sought to give  lifetime pension to politically elected governors and deputy governors of the state who were not impeached in office.

Ezeugwu said that the amendment became necessary to accommodate governors who helped to develop the state from the Old Anambra and Old Enugu State as well as the present politically elected governors in new Enugu State.

Contributing, Hon Paul Nnajiofor (PDP Nkanu East), said that the amendment of the law was long overdue.

“This law as amended will give our respected and revered elder statesmen their due and appreciate them for the immense contribution to the development of the state,’’ Nnajiofor said.

Hon. Mary Ugwu (PDP Enugu South II), said that the amended law would make future governors and their deputies to serve with dedication and transparency.

“It will have enduring effect on chief executives of the state; thus, making them to serve meritoriously; knowing that he or she has something to fall back on tomorrow after office,’’ Ugwu said.

The Speaker, Mr Edward Ubochi, thanked the lawmakers for doing a good job and seeing to the timely passage of the bill.

“The reason for passing this bill is to allow citizens of Enugu State, who have served this state as governors in Old Anambra and Old Enugu to receive a pension.

“This will make them be like and feel like others and also reap from the benefit of their immense contributions to the development of the present Enugu State,’’ Ubochi said.

Also, the Leader of the House, Ezeugwu, presented a bill for the amendment of the Establishment of the Universal Basic Education Board Law 2005 and Matters Related Therewith.

He explained that the bill, presented for second reading,  sought to confer the role of supervising the board on the governor or the commissioner for education.

The speaker, after the second reading, however, referred the bill to committees on Education, Judiciary and Ethics and Privileges for their input.

Also, the bill seeking to amend the Enugu State Education Law was read for the second time and the speaker referred it to the committees on Education and Gender Affairs.

He said that “the two committees should oragnise a public hearing on the matter and should conclude their work on the bill within three weeks’’.

The house adjourned sitting until Thursday.