Benue Assembly Passes Governors Life Pensions Bill

Benue State House of Assembly yesterday passed the Life Pension Bill to make provisions for the maintenance of the former governors of the state and their deputies.

While making a case for the passage, chairman House committee on Appointments, public service and pension matters, Geoffrey Agbatse, said necessary amendments were done on the bill. He urged his colleagues to support the bill’s passage.

With the passage of the bill into law, every former governor of Benue State is entitled to a monthly stipend equivalent to the basic salary of a serving governor and also applicable to former deputy governors.

The former governors and their deputies are entitled to maintenance allowance of twenty five million naira and fifteen million naira each every four years and yearly medical expenses.

Also contained in the law is the provision of six personal staff to former governors and three to former Deputies as well as two official SUV cars befitting the status of a former governor and one to former deputy governors which shall be replaced with new ones every four years.

The Law also stipulates that six personal staff for the former governors which includes, one personal assistant, two drivers, two cleaners and one cook to be paid for by the state.

After a clause by clause consideration of the bill, the speaker, Mr Titus Uba directed that it should be read the third time and was accordingly passed.

Our correspondent reports that the House also adopted its harmonized standing order as a working document.