By Dipo Olowookere
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has taken a huge step to cancel the payment of pension and other entitlements to former Governors of the state.
Mr Sanwo-Olu announced his intention to do this on Tuesday. This would be done by sending an executive bill to the state parliament to repeal the law which legalised the payment in the first place.
The Governor was at the Lagos State House of Assembly today to present the 2021 budget estimates to the lawmakers and while addressing them, he announced this decision.
According to the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor of Lagos State on New Media, Mr Gawat Jubril, the Governor wants to repeal the Public Office Holder (Payment of Pension Law 2007).
The Public Office Holder (Payment of Pension Law 2007) provides for payment of pension and other entitlements to former Governors and their Deputies.
“Governor of Lagos State, Mr @jidesanwoolu has announced his intention, through an executive bill, to repeal the Public Office Holder (Payment of Pension Law 2007), which provides for payment of pension & other entitlements to former Governors and their Deputies,” Mr Jubril posted on his Twitter page on Tuesday.
It is believed that most former governors, their deputies and other public officials draw huge funds for their pensions from the coffers of the state despite the country experiencing a significant decline in revenue. Most sub-nationals rely heavily on funds from the central government as their Internally Generated Revenues (IGRs) are low.
Since the return of democracy in 1999, Lagos State has had three Governors before Mr Sanwo-Olu, the incumbent.
Mr Bola Tinubu ruled the state from 1999 to 2007 and handed over to Mr Babatunde Fashola, who left in 2015, while Mr Akinwunmi Ambode governed from 2015 to 2019.
Recently, Mr Sanwo-Olu disclosed that since he assumed office on May 29, 2019, he has not acquired any new vehicle for himself and others. He claimed the cars he has been using were those used during his campaigns.
