SERAP Readies Court Suit Against Wike, Past Governors’ Life Pension Benefits
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) is set to head to court to obtain an injunction against past Governors receiving life pensions during their ministerial tenures.
SERAP made known their intention in a statement released on Friday via their X (Twitter) handle.
According to the organization, it would to a misuse of public funds if the past Governors collect paychecks from the Tinubu administration while serving as Ministers, as well as from their life pensions simultaneously.
They pinpointed ex Governors like Nyesom Wike, Abubakar Bagudu, among others, as those set to earn pay from both ends, which, in their opinion, is a waste of public funds.
“We’re suing to block former governors Wike, Umahi, Badaru, Matawalle, Lalong, Oyetola, Bagudu and Gaidam from receiving life pensions, free health care, exotic cars and other allowances from their states while serving as ministers,” the organization’s statement read.
At least 17 state Governors are set to earn life pension after their tenures.
They include: Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta), Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom), Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano), Badaru Abubakar (Jigawa), Bello Matawalle (Zamfara), Ben Ayade (Cross River), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), David Umahi (Ebonyi), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Darius Ishaku (Taraba), Abubakar Sani Bello (Niger), Abubakar Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Nasir El-Rufai,? (Kaduna), Simon Lalong (Plateau), Aminu Masari (Katsina) and Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto).
Amongst them, Wike, Umahi and Matawalle were, on Wednesday, appointed as Ministers of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT); Works and; Minister of State for Defence, among others.
