SERAP Threatens To Sue Wike, Ganduje, 15 Other Governors If They Don’t Publicly Reject ‘Parting Gifts’ After Tenure
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has asked all the outgoing state governors in Nigeria to publicly reject life pensions and any parting gifts from their state as their terms expire.
The civic group made this known in a tweet made on Saturday afternoon, threatening that they are ready to drag any governor who fails to grant their request to court.
“BREAKING: We urge the outgoing govs Wike, Matawalle, Okowa, Umahi, Ganduje, Ayade, El-Rufai, and 10 others to immediately and publicly reject any unlawful life pensions, mansions, exotic cars as ‘parting gifts’ from their respective states, or face legal action,” SERAP wrote.
“The revelation that Nigerian governors live the best both in and out of office is not surprising; what is surprising is the disparity and differences in individual entitlements.”
Many states have continued to pamper and enrich ex-governors despite poverty, youth unemployment, neglect of babies and the elderly, infrastructure deficit, rural underdevelopment, high debt profile, and other issues.
Their “excellencies” and deputies are given posh houses, expensive vehicles, paid vacation, medical insurance, and protective services in order to maintain the lifestyle.
According to the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), at least 22 states have passed laws allowing former governors and other ex-public officials to receive life pensions.
They are Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Borno, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kogi, Kwara, Imo, Lagos, Niger, Osun, Oyo, Rivers, Yobe, and Zamfara.
