The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly recently repealed the controversial amendment of the Governors and Deputy Governors' Pension Law.
Even before the bill was repealed, the state governor, Godswill Akpabio, had hinted of plans to tinker with some sections, which had attracted public outcry.
The action of the House was to douse tension generated by the law, which pegged the payment of N100 million for ex-governors and N50 million for ex-deputy governors in the state as their annual medical allowances.
The provision of free medical services for former governor and spouse at a sum not exceeding N100 million per annum and N50 million per annum for former deputy governor and spouse by the law, also generated public outcry, which was the major reason why it was repelled.
It will be recalled that when the news of the Bill first broke, many Nigerians never knew it was an existing law that was being amended as a cross-section of Nigerians and civil society organisations descended heavily on Akpabio, accusing him of profligacy.
"It was meant to be paid to health institutions involved in the treatment of the former governors or former deputy governors and their spouses. It was, therefore, deliberate falsehood and organised misinformation to claim that the said money will be paid to former governors or deputy governors every year. This has never been the practice and the amendment has added nothing to give credence to this obviously politicised orchestration.
"In the course of its implementation, we noticed a lacuna in the 2007 law, particularly on account of its open-endedness in the provisions relating to the medical expenses and provision of funds for the employment of domestic staff for the former governors and deputy governors and working with the House of Assembly, we sought to protect the law from abuse by putting a ceiling on the medical expenses for the treatment of these senior citizens of Akwa Ibom State.
"It was meant to be paid to health institutions involved in the treatment of the former governors and former deputy governors and their spouses.
It was, therefore, deliberate falsehood and organised misinformation to claim that the same money will be paid to former governors or deputy governors every year. This has never been the practice and the amendment has added nothing to give credence to this obviously politicised orchestration," he added.
Meanwhile, the state House of Assembly and Governor Akpabio have been commended for listening to the voice of the people.
Many of those who spoke were of the view that the response of the lawmaker and the governor was a demonstration of the harmony that exists between the legislature and executive in the state.
A Lagos-based legal practitioner, Okon Ubot, said "No matter what anybody thinks, we really need to commend the lawmakers for listening to the voices of the people as far as the law was concerned.
I know of states in the country that won't even blink, much more repeal the law. They will just allow Nigerians make 'noise' for a few weeks and then sweep the issue under the carpet.
Source Vanguard
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