Yari writes Matawalle, demands N30m unpaid upkeep allowances

Immediate past governor of Zamfara state, Abdul’aziz Yari has demanded the payment of an accumulated sum of N30million as upkeep allowance as well as the backlog of his pension.

At a monthly upkeep allowance of N10 million, Yari, in a letter dated 17th October 2019, addressed to the current governor, Mr Bello Matawalle, demanded upkeep for August, September, October.

This was as he asked Matawalle to also pay his pension from June till date.

In the letter titled: “Grant of Pension and Other Allowances For Former Governor, Former Deputy Governor, Former Speaker and Former Deputy Speaker of Zamfara state”, Yari held that his demand was in line with the provision of the law assented to on March 23, 2019.

Holding on the provisions of the said law, Yari held that since the pension and upkeep allowance was not in the category of privileges that can be truncated, Matawalle should direct the settlement of his backlog of upkeep and pension.

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The letter read: “I wish to humbly draw your attention to the provision of the law on the above subject matter which was amended and assented to on the 23rd of March, 2019.

“The law provides, among other entitlements of the former governor, a monthly upkeep allowance of ten million naira (N10,000,000) only and a pension equivalent to the salary he was receiving while in office.

“Accordingly, you may wish to be informed that since the expiration of my tenure on the 29th of May, 2019, I was only paid the upkeep allowance twice i.e for the month of June and July while my pension for the month of June has not been paid.

“As the law provides the pension and upkeep allowance are not in the category of privileges that can be truncated without any justifiable reason, hence, the need to request you to kindly direct the settlement of the total backlog of the pension and upkeep as provided by the law.

“While thanking you most sincerely for the anticipated positive action, please accept my high regard and esteem.”