Akpabio’s Egregious Bill

An egregious aspect of the Nigerian democracy is currently playing out in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, and at the centre of this scandalous game is the state Governor, Mr. Goodswill Akpabio, and members of the State House of Assembly. On 15 May, Akpabio, who has also concluded plans to contest for a senatorial seat after the expiration of his second term as governor in 2015, sent a bill which would enable them earn millions of naira throughout their lifetime after leaving office.

The bill, which exposes the innate greedy nature of the average Nigerian politician, was sent to the state House of Assembly on 19 May. Between that day and Tuesday, 27 May, the bill was hurriedly passed into law by the members of the House without giving any thought to the condemnation that had greeted the governor’s action as well as the huge chunk of money that would be taken out on the purse of the state.

Contained in the questionable bill, titled: ‘Akwa Ibom State Governors and Deputy Governors Pension Bill, 2014’, is a total of N2, 223, 705; and N2, 112, 215 respectively for the governor and his deputy as monthly pay and a total of N26, 684, 460  and N25, 346, 580 respectively for the duo as pension, per annum for life.

The governor is entitled to a mansion to serve as his retirement home either in Abuja or the state capital, a new official car and a utility vehicle once every four years, one personal aide and adequate security for him throughout his lifetime, all at the expense of the state government.

The bill further makes a provision for an amount not exceeding N5 million or an equivalent of $50,000 monthly for the governor to employ cooks, chauffeurs and security guards while the Deputy-Governor gets N2 million or an equivalent of $20,000 monthly as allowance to employ cooks, chauffeurs and security guards.

As if this is not crazy enough, the bill also provides the governor and his wife access to annual medical services at a sum not exceeding N100 million or an equivalent of $600,000 and for the Deputy Governor and his/her spouse N30 million or an equivalent of $200,000. While the governor gets a mansion, the deputy gets an accommodation allowance of 300 percent of his/her annual basic salary.

The governor and his deputy, as provided by the bill, also get furniture allowance of 300 percent of their annual basic salary once in every four years, a yearly maintenance and fuelling allowance for their vehicles at 300 percent of their annual basic salary, gratuity amounting to 300 percent of their annual basic salary, an annual utility allowance of 100 percent of annual salary, entertainment allowance of 100 percent of annual basic salary among many other controversial provisions.

Though we affirm that some states of the federation have packages for ex-governors and their deputies to make them comfortable after retirement, this legislation by the Akwa Ibom State lawmakers is the most risible in a country enveloped by various tragedies and abject poverty that are symptomatic of a failed state.

We wholeheartedly reject this law as passed by the State House Assembly and reject every gluttonous act by those bestowed with the mandate to serve. We also enjoin well-meaning Nigerians to call on the State House of Assembly to repeal this law as it would not do the state any good. The lawmakers should not forget that despite the huge allocation to Akwa-Ibom from the Federation Account, it is not one of the 36 states considered viable because it is heavily indebted.  They should not plunge the state further into financial slavery which would be borne by generations not yet born, because if Akwa Ibom State gets away with this brazen act of greed, other states would take a cue and the obnoxious legislation would become the order of the day nationwide.