The Benue State House of Assembly has repealed a contentious law that granted lifetime maintenance benefits to former governors and their deputies. The decision was made during a plenary session on Monday, reflecting the unanimous stance of the lawmakers against the previous law.
The repealed law, passed by the 9th Assembly in May 2023 just before their exit, provided substantial benefits to former elected governors and deputies dating back to 1999. These benefits included monthly stipends equivalent to the salaries of current officeholders, as well as allowances and official vehicles.
Speaker of the House, Aondona Dajoh, highlighted that the law was repealed because it was seen as anti-people and not enacted in good faith.
“The law was not done in good faith and does not serve the interests of the people,” he stated, following several contributions from members in support of the repeal.
The previous law stipulated various benefits, including:
- A monthly stipend for former governors equivalent to the current salary of the serving governor, charged to the state’s consolidated revenue.
- A monthly stipend for former deputy governors equivalent to the salary of the incumbent deputy governor.
- A maintenance allowance of N25 million every four years for former governors and N15 million for former deputy governors.
- Procurement of two official SUVs for former governors and one official car for former deputy governors.
- Provision of six personal staff for former governors and three for former deputy governors, including personal assistants, drivers, cleaners, and cooks.
The bill had been presented and passed by the 9th Assembly under the leadership of then Speaker Engr. Titus Uba and Hon. Geoffrey Agbatse, Chairman of the House Committee on Business and Rules.
The repeal of this law signifies a shift towards more prudent financial management and a move away from policies that may not align with public interest. The 10th Assembly’s action reflects a commitment to addressing concerns about fairness and the responsible use of state resources.
The session concluded with Speaker Dajoh ruling “in favor of the repeal, officially ending the law that had sparked significant public outcry and debate.”