N100 million in medical benefits: The shocking details of a potential new law in Akwa Ibom
The details are as stunning and profligate as they are laced with political under-linings.
The new bill, for example, if passed into law, would deny two former deputy governors, Obong Chris Ekpenyong and Mr. Nsima Ekere, as well as the current deputy governor, Lady Valerie Ebe, seen to be at cross purposes with Mr. Akpabio, from benefiting.
Akpabio, in the bill dated May 15, captioned ‘Governors and Deputy Governors Pension Bill 2014’ and addressed to the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Samuel Ikon, wants the law to come to effect on June 1 this year.
The bill spells out that “an indigene of the state who has held office as democratically-elected Governor or Deputy Governor of the former Cross River State and a person who has held office as a democratically-elected Governor or Deputy Governor of the state shall, when he ceases to hold the said office, be entitled to certain benefits.”
Akwa Ibom was created out of the old Cross River in 1987.
The bill lists such benefits to “include a pension for life at a rate equivalent to the salary of the incumbent Governor or Deputy Governor.”
Another benefit is the provision of a new official car and a utility vehicle once every four years, one personal aide and “the provision of adequate security for his person during his lifetime at the expense of government.”
Also, those entitled to the pension are to be provided with funds to employ a cook, chauffeurs and security guards for the governor; at a sum not exceeding N5million per month and N2 million per month for the deputy governor.
In what is sure to turn more than a few heads, the bill provides for free medical benefits for former state executives and their spouses at a sum not exceeding N100 million per annum for the governor and N30 million for the deputy governor.
Akpabio also wants the law to provide a befitting house not below a 5-bedroom maisonnette in either the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, or Akwa Ibom for the Governor and a yearly accommodation allowance of 300 percent of annual basic salary for the Deputy Governor.
There is also a provision for a furniture allowance of 300 percent of annual basic salary once in every four years; provision of yearly maintenance and a vehicle allowance of 300 per cent of annual basic salary.
We are far from finished.
The bill indicates a, “provision of severance gratuity of 300 per cent of annual basic salary as at the time the officer leaves office; provision of a yearly utility allowance of 100 per cent of annual basic salary; and provision of entertainment allowance of 100 per cent of annual basic salary.”
The bill explained that a former governor or deputy governor who receives a severance gratuity under the provisions of the Public and Political Office Holders (Remuneration) Law cap. 101, Laws of Akwa Ibom State, 2000 (as amended), shall not be eligible to obtain any other severance gratuity under the law, essentially barring the likes of Ekpenyong and Ekere.
Where a former governor or deputy dies, the bill says the government shall make adequate arrangement and bear the financial burden for his burial; and pay a condolence allowance of a sum equivalent to the annual basic salary of the incumbent to his next of kin.
In a country where almost two-thirds of the population live on less than $1.75 (about N300) a day, this bill if passed, which is likely, will be the latest example of an out of touch, self-obsessed Nigerian government intent on perpetuating its privileged access to national resources.
We just had to point that out.
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