Another former governor and serving senator (Gombe North), Ibrahim Dankwambo, has asked the Gombe State government to stop payment of his pension and allowance.....CONTINUE READING
Dankwambo follows in the steps of former governor of Ogun State and current senator (Ogun East), Gbenga Daniel, who in a letter to state governor, Dapo Abiodun, dated June 14, 2023, requested suspension of his monthly pension.
The Guardian, in its July 12, 2023 edition, had packed a front page story captioned, ‘Akpabio, 13 senators to earn over N5.6 billion ex-govs’ pension, benefits’.
“Besides the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), other beneficiaries of ex-governors’ pensions are: Adams Oshiomhole (Edo), Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Ibrahim-Hassan Dankwambo (Gombe), Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara), Aliyu Wammako (Sokoto), Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia), Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa), Adamu Aliero (Kebbi), Ibrahim Gaidam (Yobe), Danjuma Goje (Gombe) and Abubakar Sani Bello (Niger),” reads an excerpt from the story.
Dankwambo, however, has broken ranks. In an official letter written to the state government in October, seen by reporters, he announced: “I write to request the suspension of my monthly pension/allowance of N694,557.82 being paid to me as former governor of Gombe State.”
Investigation by The Guardian had revealed that on the average, former governors earn N100 million yearly, including 100 per cent of the basic salary of incumbent governors, which the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) puts at N11.54 million.
Their allowances include furniture, 300 per cent of the yearly basic; two brand new vehicles every four years, accommodation anywhere in the country, free medication for the ex-governor and immediate family; cooks, stewards, utility, drivers and security.
With what is accruable to each of the listed senators every year, they would receive N1.4 billion per annum, making N5.6 billion in four years, apart from salaries and sundry allowances at the Senate.
While he was governor of Akwa Ibom, Akpabio, who signed a bill, capped the pension for ex-governors and allowances at N200 million yearly. If the state’s pension law of 2014 were to be fully implemented, Akwa Ibom might be spending over N600 million on each ex-governor yearly.
