Senate President, Bukola Saraki, says he has stopped collecting pension as former Governor of Kwara state in Nigeria’s north-central region.
He made this known at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja.
Saraki said he wrote a letter to the state government to stop the payment of the pension following complaints from some quarters that former governors who are currently senators or ministers were receiving pension and salary in their new jobs.
A civil society organisation, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), had accused the former governors of receiving double pay from government, and said it was illegal.
Saraki said, “No, I’m not collecting pension; the moment I saw that allegation, I wrote to my state to stop my pension.”
“So, I speak for myself on that part; I’m not doing that, I am not receiving pension from my state.’’
“Some of these oversights are not addressing the issues. What the states should do is to go and amend their laws to say that if you have another appointment then you are not entitled to that benefit.
“With this, we will just simplify the matter.”
