Lagos Will Not Withdraw Pension From Tinubu, Fashola, Ambode

Lagos State House of Assembly says it will not repeal the state’s pension law permitting former governors and other public office holders to receive juicy pensions from state coffers.

Among the provisions of the pension law are salary for life equivalent to the salary of the incumbent, two houses one in Lagos and another in Abuja. Also provided are three vehicles to be replaced every three years among others.

Presently Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Mr. Babatunde Fashola and Akiwunmi Ambode are entitled to the pension. Ambode is, however, not entitled to the houses as the law stipulates that it is only for those who complete two consecutive terms.

Mr Tunde Braimoh, Chairman, House Committee on Information and Strategy, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday that Lagos Assembly would not go the way of the Zamfara Assembly which recently repealed pension law for its former governors.

NAN recalls that a Federal High Court in Lagos had ordered the Federal Government to recover pensions collected by former governors now serving as ministers and members of the National Assembly.

The court also directed the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami, to challenge the legality of states’ pension laws permitting former governors and other ex-public officials to receive such pensions.

Braimoh, however, faulted the court ruling that ordered Malami to take immediate legal action toward the abolishment of state laws that permit “former governors to enjoy governors’ emoluments while drawing normal salaries and allowances in their new political offices.”

He told NAN that as long as the law did not contravene the constitution, state assemblies had the right to make laws for the benefit of the society in which they operate.

According to him, separation of powers as enshrined in the constitution empowers the legislature to make laws, the executive to implement and the judiciary to interpret the laws.

“The Supreme Court had made it clear several times that no arm of government can repeal the constitutional provisions of another arm of government.

“Therefore, legislators make laws that are in tune with the yearnings and dynamics of their society.

“Until another legislature comes to alter, review or amend the law, the law is meant to be obeyed.

“The judiciary cannot pronounce that a law by the state is unconstitutional unless such state law is contradictory to the constitution,” the lawmaker said.

Braimoh said he was not aware of any law that restricted state assemblies from making laws for the provision of welfare package of former governors and public office holders.

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