The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Bola Tinubu to stop the payment of pensions to former governors and their deputies.
The organisation recalled that in 2017, it filed a suit seeking the repeal of pensions for former governors and their deputies across all states of the Federation.
In 2019, Justice Oluremi Oguntoyinbo of a Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos State, ordered the Federal Government to recover pensions collected by former governors serving as ministers and members of the National Assembly.
The ruling, SERAP said, was “blatantly” turned down by former President Muhammadu Bahari-led administration.
However, the organisation stated in a letter dated March 23 and signed by the deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare; on Sunday, March 24, that Tinubu should follow the footsteps of Abia State Governor, Alex Otti.
On March 21, Otti signed the Abia State of Nigeria Governors and Deputy Governors Pension Repeal Law of 2024, which prohibited former governors and deputies in the state from receiving pension payments.
In its statement, SERAP urged Tinubu “to emulate the good example of Governor Alex Otti of Abia State by immediately obeying the judgment ordering the Federal Government to recover pensions collected by former governors, and to challenge the legality of states’ pension laws permitting those involved to collect such outrageous pensions.”
The organisation said, “We urge you to emulate the good example of Governor Otti by urgently obeying the judgment, something which former President Muhammadu Buhari blatantly failed to do.
“The judgment, dated 26 November, 2019 was delivered by Honourable Justice Oluremi Oguntoyinbo following a suit by SERAP.
“Unless the judgment is immediately obeyed, former governors and their deputies including those now serving as ministers in your administration and members of the National Assembly who receive pensions would continue to evade justice for their actions.”
