President Bola Tinubu has been urged by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) to “publicly instruct the former governors who are now serving as ministers in your administration to stop collecting life pensions, exotic cars and other allowances from their states while they serve as ministers.”
The President was beseeched by SERAP to “instruct the former governors to immediately return any pension and allowances that they may have collected since leaving office to the public treasury.”
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Former governors Badaru Abubakar, Nyesom Wike, Bello Matawalle, Adegboyega Oyetola, and David Umahi are presently serving as Tinubu cabinet ministers. The others are Ibrahim Geidam, Atiku Bagudu, and Simon Lalong.
In the letter dated 19 August 2023 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said, “The appointment of former governors who collect life pensions while serving as ministers is implicitly forbidden by the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] and the country’s international legal obligations.”
SERAP said, “You would be acting in the public interest by stopping former governors now serving as ministers in your government from collecting life pensions, especially given the current grave economic realities in the country.”
The letter, read in part, “If the ministers that the president appoints are those who collect life pensions rather than serve the public interest, then that may show little about the conduct and integrity of the ministers, but speak volumes about the exercise of presidential power of appointment.”
“Nigerians will judge you in part by the conduct, integrity and honesty of the ministers that you appoint to work in your government. Ultimately, the success of your government would depend on the conduct of the ministers that you appoint.”
“While many pensioners are not paid their pensions, former governors serving as ministers get paid huge severance benefits upon leaving office, and are poised to enjoy double emoluments on top of the opulence of political office holders.”
“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within 7 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall consider appropriate legal actions to compel your government to comply with our request in the public interest.”
