By Onome Oghenetega
In spite of the stiff opposition that greeted the Delta State Governor and Deputy Governor Pension Rights and Other Benefits Amendment Bill, the State House of Assembly has passed the controversial amendment bill into law.
The bill which grants pension rights to former Acting Governor of the state, Prince Sam Obi, had come under criticism by Deltans who described the bill as exploitative and unpopular.
The bill was passed at Wednesday plenary presided over by the speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori after it was read for the third time.
The passage followed a motion by the House Majority Leader, Hon. Tim Owhefere, seconded by the Deputy Majority Whip of the House, Hon Fred Martins and was adopted by the House.
The House had at the Committee of Whole level chaired by the Speaker, Oborevwori, scrutinized the report on the bill by the Joint Committee on Rules, Business, Legal and Judicial Matters and the Special Committee on Bills.
At the Committee of whole, some amendments were proposed and adopted with the Chairman, House Committee on Rules, Business, Legal and Judicial Matters, Hon Charles Oniyere and that of the House Committee on Special Bills, Hon Tim Owhefere, leading the process.
The Speaker, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori while reporting progress on the findings, recommendations and resolutions of the Committee of Whole, commended members for the painstaking attention given to the bill.
He said members carefully scrutinized the bill and commended them for participating in the exercise.
The Speaker stated that the third reading and subsequent passage of the three clause bill was another milestone in the desire of the House to making laws for progress and good governance of the state.
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Meanwhile, the Delta State House of Assembly has said that the Pension Rights and Other Benefits Law for Former Governor, Deputy Governor and Acting Governor is a constitutional provision.
The Majority Leader of the House and Chairman, House Committee on Information, Owhefere who addresses Assembly Correspondent immediately plenary, said until the constitution is amended every state House of Assembly has constitutional powers to make such law.
Owhefere noted that despite the alleged abuse of the pension law by some State Houses of Assembly in collaboration with their Governors, Delta State House of Assembly remains focus in doing the right thing.
He said some states approved jumbo amounts running into millions as pension for their former governors, but the monthly take home pay for the former Chief Executive in Delta State is about four hundred and fifty thousand naira, while that of Acting Governor is Three Hundred and fifty thousand naira.
According to the lawmaker, bill was amended to accommodate the position of former Acting Governor, explaining that the monthly take home pay of the former acting governor would be a little higher than that of a retired Permanent Secretary who also received salary for life.
The Majority Leader explained that the amended law does not make provision for gratuity for former Acting Governor as he has collected severance allowance as former Speaker of the State Legislature.
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Referring to the case of Zamfara State where the House repealed the pension law for former governors and deputy governors, Owhefere said what happened was more political than the provision of the constitution.
He noted that someone who had made sacrifices for the service of the State should be taken care of and advised against any form of sentiments on the matter.
He assured Deltans of the continued resolved of the Delta State House of Assembly in making laws that promotes peace and good governance of the state.
Recall that Prince Sam Obi who is a major beneficiary of the bill amendment acted as governor in 2010 for only six weeks when former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan’s election was annulled by the Court and a re-run election was conducted.
