Kano Youths Protest Pension For Ex-Governors

Abdullahi-Umar-Ganduje

Some youths under the aegis of Voice of Progressive Youth in Kano State has called on the State House of Assembly to reverse the decision to pay pension benefits for former governors and their deputies.

In a letter presented by the chairman of the group, Hamisu Sharifai, to Clerk of the Assembly on Friday in Kano, the youth accused the state of paying more attention to the former state administrators to the detriment of the citizens.

Sharifai explained that considering the country’s current economic situation, the law to be paying such outrageous bills to ex-governors and their deputies need to be rescinded in the interest of justice, equity, fairness, public decency and morality.

The youths noted that the law depleted the lean treasury of the state as well as made the governors and their deputies the landlords, rather than the servants of the good people of Kano State.

Receiving the letter, the Clerk of the Assembly, Mr Lawan Badamasi, gave assurance to the youths that their message would duly be delivered to the leadership of the House as he also promised that the lawmakers would act in accordance with the law.

In 2007, a former Kano State Governor, Ibrahim Shekarau, signed the Pension Rights of Governor and Deputy Governor, a law that entitles former governors and their deputies to pension rights for life.

Section 3 (1) of the law provides the governors and deputy governors with pension at the rate equivalent to annual total emolument of the incumbent governor.

This includes two personal staff, two brand new vehicle, free medical treatment and 30 days annual vacation within or outside Nigeria.