Why we sued Akpabio, Oshiomhole, others – SERAP
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against the president of the senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and 10 other former governors over their double salaries. The affected former governors have continued to draw pensions and salaries relevant to their former positions while getting the same as sitting senators.
Aside from Akpabio, Senators Abdulaziz Yari, Aminu Tambuwal, Adamu Aliero, Adams Oshiomole, Ibrahim Gaidam, Seriake Dickson, Ibrahim Dankwambo, Aliyu Wammako, Gbenga Daniel, and Minister of Works, Dave Umahi.
The actions of the former governors, according to Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP’s deputy director, are ‘absurd’ given that “over 137 million Nigerians are living in extreme poverty.”
“Collecting pensions as former governors and salaries while serving as public officers is a flagrant violation of the letter and spirit of the Nigerian Constitution and the public trust,” the not-for-profit said in its statement.
SERAP said should the court fail to order stoppage of the double salaries,
“the former governors would continue to both enjoy life pension packages, and collect salaries as serving public officers, and the travesty and private self-interest would continue.”
The court is yet to fix a date to hear the suit.
I do not receive double salaries – Gbenga Daniel
Upon his winning a senatorial ticket, Gbenga Daniel said he stopped receiving former governor’s salaries and pensions. He is however listed among former governors accused of the act.
Daniel had said in a previous interview: “For about 12 years I was not in public service, now that I am back in public service let me just make sure that I tidy things up and somebody just pointed out to me, and say why don’t I just remind the governor that I am not here and he should please stop the monthly pension that he was paying and hopefully when I am out of the Senate we check what the law says.
