Lagos Assembly stops houses for ex-governors, slashes pension by 50 percent

Lagos State House of Assembly on Thursday approved the reduction of pension to former governors, deputies and certain officials by 50 percent.

The Committee on Establishment also expunged the provision of houses in Abuja and Lagos for former governors.

Also to be reduced are the number of vehicles to be made available to them and their second in command.

Former Governors Bola Tinubu, Babatunde Fashola, Akinwunmi Ambode and their deputies benefited from the retiring law. DAILY POST earlier published the details.

Speaker Mudashiru Obasa suggested that former governors should get two vehicles (a car and a van) instead of three as recommended by the committee.

Obasa further proposed that the amended bill provides cars to be changed every four years instead of the three years recommended.

During plenary, some lawmakers suggested that the ex-officials’ pension be slashed by 75 percent; others opposed.

The Speaker, however, said a 50 percent cut was fair since houses and other benefits have been removed.

“I have seen former Speakers who we had to intervene in their lives because of the situations they found themselves outside office. We have also seen former governors in bad situations.”

He reminded that the House must meet the wishes of the people one of which is a downward review in the cost of governance.

“We must realise that we would always go back to the people for support. So when we hearken to their agitations and reduce what existed, it shows that we listen,” Obasa added.