Femi Falana (SAN), the Chairman of the Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond, has called on former governors, including Godswill Akpabio, the President of the Senate, to cease receiving pension payments in their capacity as former state governors.
In his plea, Falana commended the actions of former governors like Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State and Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State, who have chosen to forego these pension payments. He urged other former governors, especially those in both the executive and legislative branches of government, to follow their lead.
Falana emphasized that this step is essential in light of the ruling delivered by Justice Oluremi Oguntoyinbo (retd.) on November 26, 2019. The ruling declared the pension payments to former governors unlawful and unconstitutional. This legal action was initiated by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), challenging the constitutionality of the pensions granted to former Nigerian governors.
Justice Oguntoyinbo’s ruling, in a case with case number FHC/L/CS/1497/2017, not only deemed the pension payments unlawful but also instructed the Minister of Justice and the Accountant-General of the Federation to recover life pensions previously granted to former governors who subsequently served as senators and ministers.
Falana commended Gbenga Daniel and Ibrahim Dankwambo for adhering to these rulings and urging their respective state governments to stop granting them these pension benefits, calling it a commendable step. He encouraged other former governors, particularly those in executive and legislative roles, to follow suit and immediately decline these unlawful pension payments.
