By Ishaya Ibrahim
The Kano State House of Assembly has passed a bill providing life pension, foreign medical travels, cars and other benefits for the Speaker and Deputy after they leave their respective offices.
The bill, if signed into law by Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, will guarantee new vehicles every four years for any holder of the offices.
A similar bill which seeks to give Bayelsa State Lawmakers pension for life was rejected by the Governor, Seriake Dickson. Although in the case of Kano, the beneficiaries of the life pension are the Speaker and the Deputy.
Unlike in Bayelsa, observers say Governor Ganduje may likely assent to the bill due to the favours the House of Assembly have extended to him.
Last year, the lawmakers shelved investigation of a video which showed Governor Ganduje allegedly receiving bribe money in Dollars.
Another reason why the Governor may assent the bill is that his alleged planned removal of Emir Muhammadu Sanusi will be void if the lawmakers don’t give him backing.
The pension bill states: “There shall be paid a pension to the person who held office as Speaker and Deputy Speaker equal to the emoluments of a serving speaker and deputy speaker, provided that either the Speaker or the Deputy do not hold any paid elective or selective appointment.’
“Any person duly elected as Speaker or Deputy Speaker shall, on completion of his term be entitled to a grant of pension for life by the state, provided that such person was not removed from office through impeachment by members of the House of Assembly.
“Pension shall be payable to the Speaker or Deputy Speaker at the expiration of the tenure of the holder of the office. Where the Speaker or Deputy vacates office before the expiration of the term of his office, not as a result of impeachment, he shall be paid pension pro-rata the number of years he spent in relation to his tenure of office.
“Where the Speaker or Deputy Speaker dies in the office before the expiration of the term of his tenure, he shall be paid pension pro-rata the number of years he spent in relation to his tenure of office.
“There shall be provided for the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker a brand-new vehicle to be bought by the State Government every four years.
“There shall be provided for the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker medical expenses either home or abroad depending on the nature of the illness.”
