BREAKING: Abia House of Assembly passes a bill to stop payment of pension to former Govs, Deputy Govs

Joseph Irikefe

Abia State House of Assembly has successfully passed into law, A Bill (H.A.B 11:) for a Law to Revoke The Abia State Governors & Deputy Governors Pensions Law No 4 of 2001 and for other Matters connected therewith.

The passage of the Bill followed its first, second reading, consideration at the committee of the whole and its 3rd reading during Tuesday’s plenary. The Abia State Governors’ and Deputy Governors’ Pensions Law (Repeal).

Speaker Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa, announcing the passage of the bill, highlighted its importance in reducing the state’s governance expenses and redirecting resources towards development.

The bill will now be transmitted to the Executive for assent.

Once signed by the Governor, the law will be known as the “Abia State Governors and Deputy Governor’s (Repeal) Law 2024” and will take effect immediately, starting from today (Tuesday), 19th day of March 2024.

Former Governors of Abia State and their Deputies will no longer enjoy pension benefits upon the expiration of their tenures.

This bill was sponsored by the majority Leader of the Abia state House of Assembly and member Representing Arochukwu State Constituency, Hon Uchanna Okoro.

The Former Governor of Abia State Dr. Orji Uzor kalu sometime in 2015 raised issues of non-payment of his pension allowance as a former Governor of the state.