Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has condemned the N300 million mansion retirement benefits for immediate past governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, and his former deputy, Dr. Pius Odubu, and called on governor Godwin Obaseki to “immediately withdraw the bill, and use the funds to clear the backlog of pension arrears spanning between seven and 45 months.”
This followed reports of amendment of Law for Pension Rights of the Governor and Deputy Governor by the Edo State House of Assembly, with the immediate past governor and deputy governor expected to be some of the beneficiaries. The new amendment contains provision of residential buildings worth N200m and N100m for the governor and his deputy at the expiration of their tenures.
The bill also provides that the buildings could be sited in any location of their choice.
But in a statement dated 17 November 2016, SERAP executive director Adetokunbo Mumuni said: “Coming at a time the Edo State government can’t even pay its pensioners and salaries of workers, the amendment by the Edo State House of Assembly is immoral, unfair, unconstitutional, unreasonable, and a rip-off on a massive scale. Governor Obaseki must reject this grotesque bill if he’s to fulfil his election promises and lift millions of Edo State pensioners out of extreme poverty.”
“This so-called proposed legislation means that millions of Edo pensioners and workers will have to fund the massive and unjust pensions for former governor Oshiomhole and his deputy and others that will come after them.”
The statement reads in part: “Many of the retirees whose pensions have not been paid have been evicted from their apartments due to their inability to pay their rents. According to SERAP’s information, one of such retirees is Ihama Friday who at 60 is now squatting with friends. Another pensioner Osa-Aighobarueghia who retired as a headteacher continues to live a life of debts because the Edo State government has refused to pay her 30 months’ pension benefits.”
“SERAP is aware that the Edo State government is not the only state passing such obnoxious pension laws to provide outrageous retirement benefits to former governors and deputy governors and that many of them are already in the National Assembly receiving multiple benefits and putting their personal bank accounts ahead of the common good. SERAP is finalising a comprehensive legal strategy to challenge these unjust laws and to name and shame those who continue to benefit from such laws.”
“Nigerians should not be made to subsidise these bloated pensions and clearly undeserved perks. Governor Obaseki should not see disadvantaged Nigerians and poor pensioners according to Orwell’s Animal Farm dictum: ‘All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others’. Approving the amendment by the Edo State House of Assembly will amount to a fundamental breach of the governor’s constitutional oath declaration to serve the interest of justice, common good, transparency and accountability.”
“SERAP is appalled by this apparently unfair and discriminatory law. There is absolutely no justification for such law at a time the pensions systems across the country are in poor shape, and pensioners continue to be denied the fruit of their labour. Former governors and their deputies can’t lawfully give to themselves a steady stream of public funds for life at a time millions of pensioners including in Edo State face cut to their pension schemes and remain in poverty without any state support.”
If Godwin Obaseki continue like this. Hahahaha. I sorry for u
How long will it take Edo people to rialise..with this were we dey go
How can he withdraw it when he will be a beneficiary in the long run
Take heart Nigeria.
Dere is a serious problem obaseki just need to be careful wt wat he is doing if not he will die lik a chicken b4 his time
one thing i come 2 realise is dat retirement benefit 4 politicians shld be stopped since they already hv accumulated enough 4 their 10th generatn. let d life of a common man be improved. many families cannot afford 3sq meals. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
Even some adopt formular 0-0-1 or 0-1-0 or 1-0-0, that is, to afford a squre meal is a problem.
Na wao for dis selfish people may God judge them in Jesus Name Amen.
They are never satisfied. See why he did the unthinkable to crown Obaseki? Evil people, I pity Edo people.
I can now see d big diff btw black n white people. When Donald trump want to collect $1 annually. Our evil politicians want to use government money to pay stupid retirement
So u av money to to build mansion for x governor and u dont av money to pay civil servant and pensionier …..who is foolin who??
Greedy & selfishness leaders we hav
When is dis madness going to end?
Osho spoilt did one big time.
foolishness of Nigerians, 300m as pension for working for 8years, while 20, 000 for some one who suffered for the same state for 35 years is difficult to pay. Some even has died waiting to be settled all to no avail
Nigerian politician are pushing d masses to d wall. I foresee outbreak of great anachy & revolution against d public office holders, be it selected or elected.
U v got a soldier in me
Oh pay back time for rigging him into office I am sorry for Edo people
Gody u know quite well that this one is not Godwinoooooo u have started in a bad way
Has he starting
Has he started playing according to the written scripts of Adams and their party without thinking of the state? May God have mercy on us IJN
Oshiomhole is enjoying the reward of his cat and mouse tactics of Labour sell out to pave his way to State House.
In fact, Nigeria case is getting out of hand, we Nigerians, I mean common man should think of how revolution can take place. We have no leaders in Nigeria, we only have devourers and armed robbers at the helm of affairs. Masses Who voted them in are living a miserable life but they are accumulating wealth for their unborn generations. They no go die well. Foolishness and stupidity of the highest order
This is wickedness. God will surely bring these people to book. So after all the wealth he has gathered he still wants benefit? This is greed. God will judge
So such money exist,and you cant pay the retiree,big shame to Nigeria politicians
This is coming up bearly 1 week after coming in of Obaseki. Only God know where the state will be be4 the stolen mandate will be recovered. I fear for the common man.
wetin cocern SERAP if d EDO state assembly say they are buoyant 2 say thank u 2 their past govenors ? !!!
While the workers are dieing of starvation?
what is buoyant in state with debt profile of about 300billion naira and with backlog of salaries,pensions gratuity etc.
Adebayo you are heartless, i guess you are not from Edo State. LG Workers are owned 9months salaries and Obaseki and the so called State Assembly are busy saying they want to build house for Oshiomole and his deputy with tax payers money you are there say rubbish. May God forgive you
Haba, they don’t have anything call fear of God.
APC change mantra is questionable.This is coming at a time they are in recession not having any tangible economic blueprint.My only prayers is if d masses/electorate can be wise 2 cast their votes 4 prayerfully God sent leaders and protect d votes in subsequent elections A man DAT just married his granddaughter and foisted his stooge on Edo people what do expect.Having been a one time labour leader is dis not a dog going back 2 its vomit.Godwin Obsseki welcome 2 d oil rich state.God is watching.
As if they didn’t collect salaries during their stay in office with free food and exotic wines and to be collecting pensions monthly. A civil servant who served the nation meritoriously for 35years is not a beneficiary of govt gratitude but left to suffer in retirement. God sees us all and our doings on earth and shall pay everyone according to his/her deeds.
What a senseless & insensitive bill All these politicians have sold their souls to d devil They have forgotten d pensiober on Grd lev 16 who served for 35 yrs but has less than #6million to collect!!! Wait,Just a little time from now,they will all be stoned on our streets & will all die unmourned!!!!
Politicians keep milking our resources in d face of economic recession,I know NIGERIANS will be wise 2 arise against our corrupt leaders, demowise will keep knocking until we succeed,Inshallah!
I knw civil servants dat retired 2014 till date no Kobo has b given to dem, to feed is tough. Governor dat acquire wealth stil talking abt much money 4 his retirement. If such money is converted for civil servants retirees it wil go a long way.
oyelandu,are u normal at all,look at what u are saying as if u are not educated
oyelandu,are u normal at all,look at what u are saying as if u are not educated
The sponsor, the originator and the supporters of the bill are the real enemies of the masses. The offence could be punishable by death in a sane society.
dats y he fought hard 2 put a stooge in ofix.
Edo people una never see anything yet no be una see shit 4 day time in the night una carry una own leg go put Obaseki is a capital F. Tell him that i say so.
Abeg did the poors have hope in this country?Adams oshiomhole this is purely robbery,while others are dieing of hungry u still need more on the one looted already? pls they should have fair of God
He will not accept that for sure. O knw Comr Adams wela. Dat tu much na
No
If my counting is right here close t8 states of the federation have passed this bill,and yet NLC do not see anything wrong in this outrageous pensions for past governors .
The new governor should divide Edo state into four parts. He should sell two parts into slavery and give the money to Oshimhole and his deputy. At the end of his own governorship, he can sell the rest and pocket the money!
Godson must pacify Godfather
Is ds not campaign after election? D project is likely to have bn completed b4 announcement
Ole
THE SO CALL POOR HAS FUTURE BUT THESE THIEVES KANRAN WILL SOON REGRET THERE DID LET US RELAX AND BE PRAYERFUL GOD WILL FIGHT FOR US
300 million????????
Dis our polithiefcians no d fear@all o…chaii
Olodumare will rest d soul of Abami Eda! who advocated dat all public office holders should be taking d oath of office with OGUN or SANGO. who born MONKEY to steal, for where?
Thief
Goooooood
The legislators knew what they were doing. The contract wife have to be maintained. If she goes, it will be minus to the governor emeritus and his party.
The problem of Nigeria is a problem of a good leadership. More worst things are coming. It is not a curse. It is a reality. No one can stop it. Tribalism and unpatrotism in Nigerians would not allow it. Only God intervention can stop it. Unfortunely, nigerians should accept their fate. They should stop complaining and railing against their fate. They should put their problem in God’s hands.
You have not seen anything yet. Is better the past regime, because it is going round. But these ones…?
With all themoney he has stolen for 18years in office? This is a kirikiri candidate!
Is that a retirement ?
have said it, oshiomhole is a big thief
Am nt surprised his name says it all,just like lie mohammed dat can lie 4 Africa, oshi-omo-ole. Means a bad arm robber.
Honestly, I can’t quantify n qualify the admiration I had for this man when he was the NLC leader. Nigeria can never be better if this is what our leaders do. But let them know people can not be fooled for ever, n remember French revolution. I fearoooo
Apc!! Change.Masses enjoy ur change.Hahahahaha
ole lokuro, ole lobosi
Is this a comrade or opportunist…I pity u Mr oshiomole…always that for remember everytin we do
That amount is unreasonable
Ths is wickedness God wl never 4giv u see pensioneers r suffering out there, som pple cannt get three sqr meal a day n u talk of 300ml 4 som idiot who steal govt funds.
Edo decides
BI eniyan ko mu won,Olorun a mu Obinrin to ti ile ale de
Ti o gba oko re leti
APC have simply advanced corruption. Nigerians can now see the difference
When the big fool did not pay pensioners, #diarisGodoo#
I think obaseki is systematically pay back is gratitude to oshimole for making him his successur
People are diying u are building house
Oshi means stealing in Igbo and ole mess thief in Yoruba so oshi ma ole means oshiomole.