Stop pension to former Govs, obey court order, SERAP tells Tinubu

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A rights group on Sunday called on President Bola Tinubu to halt the disbursement of pensions to former governors and their deputies.

In 2017, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) initiated legal action seeking the abolishment of pensions for former governors and their deputies nationwide.

Subsequently, in 2019, Justice Oluremi Oguntoyinbo of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos State, directed the Federal Government to reclaim pensions received by former governors who were serving as ministers or members of the National Assembly.

SERAP’s deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, stated that the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari outrightly rejected the court’s decision.

The group now urges President Tinubu to emulate the example set by Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, who recently signed the Abia State of Nigeria Governors and Deputy Governors Pension Repeal Law of 2024, effectively prohibiting former governors and deputies in the state from receiving pension benefits.