Akpabio, a serving senator, still collects pension after just 8 years in office as governor!

In 2014 when the news of Akpabio's new law empowering his life-time entitlement after serving for just 8 years broke, ears tingled and tongues wagged but nothing changed as desired. When he felt the heat was too much, he said it was in the interest of the state and more so, to curb wastage since the old law empowering such for those befire him was open-ended. 

Now, here is a quick recap. According to the law, Akpabio is entitled to a yearly pension of #200 million naira, a mansion, a new official car and a utility vehicle once in every four years. It also includes a personal aide and the provision of adequate security for him. The law also stresses that he will get an amount not exceeding N5 million or an equivalent of $50,000.00 monthly to engage the services of a cook, chauffeurs and security guards. He will also have access, together with his family, to free medical services at a sum not exceeding N100 million or an equivalent of $600,000.00.

According to Premium Times, there are clear-cut differences between the old law he claimed was porous and his own law which wreaks of his insatiable appetite for vanity. They are paired as follows:

1. The two bills give “pension for life” to former governors and deputy governors at rates equivalent to their salaries when in office.

2. Attah’s version gives one official car, one personal aide, and “adequate” security. Akpabio’s bill also gives one personal aide, adequate, and one official car; but adds a utility vehicle every four years.

3. Attah’s law wants “funds” for ex-governor to hire a cook, a chauffeur and two security guards. Akpabio’s law demands same privileges but gives a price tag: N5 million (or $50,000).

The math behind that figure is puzzling: even where two cooks, two chauffeurs are hired, in addition to as much as 10 security guards (Attah’s law says two guards), and say the 14 workers are paid as much as N200,000 monthly(an impossible rate), the total personnel cost will cost N2.8 million(less than N5million).

4. Attah’s law provides for free medical services for a former governor and spouse. Akpabio’s version says the governor is entitled to N100million ($600,000) worth of medical service. Simply put, the governor will draw that amount yearly.

6. Attah’s law makes no provision for a house for the governor. Akpabio demands at least “5-bedroom maisonette” in Abuja or Akwa Ibom for the governor. The deputy governor is given no house, but 300% of annual basic salary for accommodation.

7. Akpabio provides 300% furniture allowance, 300% vehicle maintenance and fuelling, (Both earned severance gratuity of 300% salary), yearly utility of 100%, and entertainment allowance of 100%. Attah’s version of the law has none of these.

8. Both laws say the state will bear the cost of funeral of ex-governors while condolence allowance- equivalent to salary- is paid to next of kin.

9. Then, Akpabio’s version stipulates free medical services for himself and his wife at a sum not exceeding N100 million or an equivalent of $600,000.00. His wife is also to enjoy a N12 million medical allowance in case she survives him.

As outrageous as this sounds, similar laws have been passed by many Nigerian governors including those of Lagos, Rivers, Bauchi and Benue states, among others. It's even said that Sanwo-Olu of Lagos sponsored a bill to abolish it but the lawmakers only slashed the privileges  by 50%.