Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has said that he has never requested nor collected pension from Rivers State as a former governor of the state.
He said this on Thursday via his official Twitter handle. Quoting a tweet on ex-governors (who had served or are serving as ministers, senators) who a court in Lagos had asked the Federal Government to recover pension from, Amaechi said that even if offered pension, he would have declined.
He tweeted, “I have never requested for or collected one kobo as pension from River State Govt. If offered, I will politely decline and request that the money should be given to Rivers State pensioners. I do not believe that I should receive pension as ex-gov of River State while serving as a minister.”
A Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday has pronounced that it is illegal for National Assembly members and ministers who were once state governors to continue to earn emoluments and life pension as ex-governors from their states.
The court, in a judgment by Justice Oluremi Oguntoyinbo, decried the situation where “former governors, who are now senators and ministers, enjoy governors’ emoluments while drawing normal salaries and allowances in their new political offices.”
The court ordered the Attorney General of the Federation to take immediate legal action towards the abolishment of state laws permitting such pension arrangement.
See tweet:
I have never requested for or collected one kobo as pension from R/State Govt. If offered, I will politely decline & request that the money should be given to Rivers State pensioners. I do not believe that I should receive pension as ex-gov of R/State while serving as a minister https://t.co/dDfbQMdcRi
— Chibuike R. Amaechi (@ChibuikeAmaechi) December 5, 2019
