Imo state Governor Hope Uzodinma has assented to a bill repealing the law that created pension allowances and gratuities for ex-public Office Holders like governors, deputy governors, assembly speakers and deputy speakers. He noted that the erstwhile law runs contrary to the 1999 constitution as amended, which stipulates that a pensioner must have worked for at least 10 years and must be up to 45 years of age.
Governor Hope Uzodinma went on to describe the legislation as very important, saying the government is committed to building a strong economy that will survive post-covid-19 and also added that the law will enable the state to manage its available resources judiciously.
He further expressed his disappointment in situations where some of the beneficiaries of such payments also get a huge amount of money as salaries and allowances in other positions they occupied such as serving as senators or members of the House of Representatives.
He, however, thanked the State House of Assembly for rising to the occasion and embracing totally the desire of the government to strengthen the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) base of the state.
Speaker of the Imo House of Assembly, Chiji Collins, said that the house of assembly presented two bills for the governor’s assent: the Bill on the Imo State University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences and Bill on the Repeal of Pensions and Gratuity.
He said that the bill on pensions and gratuity has long been repealed in many states of the federation when it was discovered to run contrary to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
The governor concluded by assuring the people of the state of his commitment and desire to grow an economy that will stand the test of time.
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