By Chinedu Nwankwo.
I am not an ex-governor. I am not an ex-deputy governor. My relatives are not. I may not be soon. Eventhough it is possible for me to be, because with God all things are possible.
Not minding the above, I am quite aware that many states across the country had since the return of democracy enacted a life pension law for their ex-governors and their deputies, giving them lifeline after exiting office at the expiration of their tenures. At the last count, the law is operational in more than 20 states including Enugu State. In these states, heaven has not fallen and the people have not called for the heads of their governors or members of Houses of Assembly.
The law became more pronounced at the twilight of the administration of the first set of elected governors, whose tenure expired in 2007.
Eventhough there were scathing remarks, public outcry and criticisms against the law, when it was initially made by some State Assemblies, that was expected and it didn’t stop its implementation. Such opposition and criticisms against it is common in a democracy like ours, where all Dick and Harry find joy in criticising every policy of government without superior fact or adequate information.
But thank God that superior reasoning and arguments have since proven that there is nothing absolutely wrong with the law, so far it is constitutional and legally made.
Meanwhile, taking into consideration, the enormous challenges and societal pressures, these category of former public office holders face outside office, they deserve such lifeline outside office to enable them cope. With the law, these public office holders would be discouraged from stealing or looting, while in office, knowing that there is a fallback outside office.
So why all these hullabaloo over the recent move by Enugu State House of Assembly to amend the life pension law for the ex-governors and their deputies .This law is not the making of the present government in the state. The law has been there since 2007. Why the social media rantings and distortion of facts about it by mudslingers, blackmailers, hired hirelings and irritants?
It is a known and axiomatic fact that the law was first passed in 2007 in Enugu State. What is wrong in the former governors and their deputies in Enugu State enjoying what thier colleagues have been enjoying in other states since?
Are these ex-governors and their deputies not indigenes of Enugu State, who have immensely paid thier due by contributing their quota in developing the state? What is wrong in providing a lifeline to them when states that are poorer and more indebted than Enugu State have done so for their ex-governors and deputies without bathing an eyelid?
How are we sure that even some state governments that recently announced that they will repeal their own have done so? These ex- governors and their deputies are part and parcel of our society. They have their problems and challenges which in most cases are overwhelming and daunting, due to over expectations and pressures from the people.
There is nothing wrong with the law and move to amend it in Enugu. This is especially when such will not affect state government in discharging her financial obligations. Enugu State under Ugwuanyi’s leadership has lived up to the expectations in discharging its financial obligations in the face of great challenges.
It is public knowledge that Enugu is among the few states that commenced early payment of N30,000 minimum wage. The State has been consistent and due in payment of it, when some states that are paying their ex-governors and deputies life pension are yet to pay workers minimum wage. Some states that started paying N30,000 minimum alongside Enugu and others have since reverted to paying N18,000 due to economic recession.
The backlogs of pension and gratuity is not the making of the present government in the state, eventhough government is a continuum. This is why the government of the day has been drastically reducing the backlogs by earmarking hundreds of millions every month for defraying this accumulated debts. This shows that the government is not unmindful and insensitive of the problems at hand and what is expected of her.
Enugu state, though not an oil producing state is among the three states in the country that pay monthly salaries without waiting for handouts from Abuja. This became possible because of the present government’s prudence and fiscal discipline in generating and managing the resources of the state.
It is thought-provoking, hypocritical and disheartening that during the ENDSARS Protest, nobody came out to say that Enugu state government distributed palliatives. Even the churches, members of NURTW, Keke riders, members of NUJ who were in the know and benefited immensely from state government’s palliative, kept quite when the government was accused of hoarding the palliatives. Hoarding what when the government distributed more palliatives than was brought by CA-COVID.
The pension brouhaha in Enugu is taking the same way as paid agents have jumped to premature and hence wrong conclusions. The pending Bill is yet to be passed into law so everything being said is mere speculations. When the bill is passed people can get the Certified Through Copy from the clerk and know exactly what to say.
It is hoped that those who are critical of the yet to be passed amended Enugu life pension bill for ex-governors and their deputies are quite aware that ex-presidents of the country are well taken care of by the Federal government after they leave office. They are entitled to presidential library, a full fledged office, cars and others which are being provided for in the Federal budget. Monies for these are being paid to them in the first line charge.
The idea of seeing all public office holders as looters is very unfair. We need to encourage people to volunteer to serve knowing full well that afterwards there will be something to fall back on. Most people criticising every policy of this administration are those who think that they must remain in their appointed position for eight years or those feeling that they must have been appointed. Others are paid agents working for their masters towards 2023.
Calling for the head of the leader of Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Ikechukwu Ezeugwu over the presentation of the bill is political and inconsiderate. It smacks ignorance and immaturity. It is obvious that many critics of the bill do not have good knowledge of how the House of Assembly works and the constitutional roles of a leader of the House.
Lest we may have forgotten. The people elected Members of the House of Assembly and have confidence in them that they are in better position to make choices for them.
In or out of office, the people still go to these former governors and deputies for financial assistance. At the level, these leaders have reached, there is minimum expectations from them, in terms of basic standard of living and financial well-being.
It is high time people allow superior reasonings to prevail over emotions, malice, vindictiveness and mudslinging on policies and programmes of Enugu State Government.
NWANKWO, a policy analyst writes from New Haven Enugu.
Enugu State is the hands of God!
