The Benue State House of Assembly has rescinded the lifetime pension law, which provided extensive benefits to former elected governors and their deputies.
This law was controversially passed just days before the conclusion of the previous assembly, extending benefits to ex-elected governors and their deputies since 1999.
Titus Uba, the 2023 gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), presided over the assembly as the speaker when the law was passed. However, on Monday, May 27, 2024, the assembly, under the leadership of Speaker Aondona Dajoh, unanimously decided to repeal the law. The decision was based on the belief that the law was enacted without good faith and was against the interests of the people.
The repealed law had outlined several benefits for the former governors and their deputies. These included a monthly stipend equivalent to the salary of the current governor, charged on the Consolidated Revenue Funds of the State. Other benefits included a maintenance allowance of N25,000,000.00 for the former Governor and N15,000,000.00 for the Deputy Governor every four years, procurement of two official SUVs for the former governor and one for the deputy governor, and provision of personal staff.
The assembly’s decision to repeal the law reflects its commitment to serving the best interests of the people.
