Former Governor of Ogun State, Gbenga Daniel, has asked the State government to stop the payment of his monthly pension as an ex-Governor.
Daniel, who is the new Senator representing Ogun East, was inaugurated alongside other Senators on 13 June at the National Assembly.
The Senator noted that he had not benefitted from any welfare packages, be it medical, furniture, transportation and others, since he left office in 2011.
His request was in view of the “ethical code against double emoluments that a serving Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who hitherto was a former State Governor shall not be entitled to the payment of pension and allowances from such state.”
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The senator made the request through a letter he sent to the State Governor and dated 14 June.
The statement read in part: “I write to request for the suspension of my monthly pension/allowances of 676,376.95 (gross) (Six Hundred and Seventy-Six Thousand, Three Hundred Seventy-Six Naira, Ninety-Five Kobo) being paid as a former Executive Governor of Ogun State.
“This request is in compliance with my conscience, moral principle and ethical code against double emoluments that a serving Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who hitherto was a former State Governor shall not be entitled to the payment of pension and allowances from such state.
“It would be recalled that on Tuesday, 13th June 2023, I was, with other elected Senators and Members of the House of Representatives, inaugurated as members of the 10th National Assembly.
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“It is pertinent to also have it on record that since I left the office in 2011, I have not benefitted from any welfare packages, be it medical, furniture, transportation etc.”
Many State governments award their former Governors generous pensions, despite the payment being widely criticized.
Many former Governors have taken other public offices as senators or ministers at the federal level.