Former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, has commended Abia State Gocerbor Alex Otti for moving to end the payment of pensions to ex-governor s in the state.
Obasanjo, who made these remarks during his visit to the governor in Abia on Friday, called on other states’ governors to lean from Otti and sign a bill that would end the payment of pensions to ex-governors in their respective states.
According to the former president, the pensions of ex-goverbors have doubled, those of ordinary people have remained unpaid since 2014.
He described the pension scheme that allows former governors to own a house in Abuja and elsewhere, as well as the ability to carr away whatever they want, as outrageous, and he thanks Otti for putting an end to the rascality.
In his words, “”I learned of the abolition of the Abia pension laws while watching television. I asked questions about it and was told that it was an overly generous pension scheme for former governors.
“This plan seemed objectionable as it included housing in Abuja, among other places, and just allowed unlimited benefits to be given, even though ordinary people’s pensions have not been paid since 2014.
“Such leadership is in doubt. You vowed to end this waste. Your action deserves appreciation and I wish that your colleagues would take a leaf out of your book.”
Obasanjo’s reaction came few days after Otti sent a bill to the Abia state House of Assemble that would end the payment of pensions to former governors in the state.