Have You Ever Wondered Why Nigeria is Still Neck Deep in The Hood? - RKO

Have you ever wondered why Nigeria is still neck deep in the hood? Here are the least of the reasons, Compare and be the judge:

UK

David Cameron resigned on Wednesday, 13.07.16 as the Prime Minister of the UK after 6 years at No 10 Downing Street

He chose to snub the extraordinary exit package granted to predecessors like greedy Tony Blair and deferred pension till he turns 65, 16 years from now

He is expected to get a pay-off of around £20,000 (severance package)

He is also in line for pension of around £40,000 a year (WHEN HE TURNS 65), not before

United Kingdom's GDP is $2.85 trillion which ranks 5th in the world while Nigeria's $481 billion ranks 25th. (At least 6 times bigger than Nigeria's)

He and wife remortgaged their family’s only house (£3.6m Notting Hill home) to raise £800,000 deposit for their post-premiership home (both David and Samantha are children of multimillionaire parents)

Nigeria

With Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) approval, political office holders, on leaving office are to get 300 percent basic salary as severance allowances.

In addition, various state assemblies approved a wide range of entitlements for ex-governors and their deputies

Some former state executive are fully engaged in our ‘shallow’ chambers as senators while some are serving as ministers while still drawing pensions from their States notwithstanding the inability of such states to pay workers' salaries

These former governors now senators are: Bukola Saraki (Kwara), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (Kano), Kabiru Gaya (Kano), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Theodore Orji (Abia), Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa), Sam Egwu (Ebonyi), Shaaba Lafiagi (Kwara), Joshua Dariye (Plateau) and Jonah Jang (Plateau), Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko (Sokoto), Ahmed Sani Yarima (Zamfara), Danjuma Goje (Gombe), Bukar Abba Ibrahim (Yobe), Adamu Aliero (Kebbi), George Akume (Benue) and Isiaka Adeleke (Osun).

Former deputy governors in the Senate are Ms Biodun Olujimi (Ekiti) and Enyinaya Harcourt Abaribe (Abia) while Danladi Abubakar Sani was the acting governor of Taraba state

Former governors now ministers include Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Chris Ngige (Anambra) and Babatunde Fashola (Lagos).

PENSION samples

Lagos State

In 2007, Lagos Pension Law approved for former governor Bola Tinubu (and the future ex-governors): two houses, one in Lagos and another in Abuja, six brand new cars replaceable every three years; furniture allowance of 300 percent of annual salary to be paid every two years, N30 million pension annually, security detail, free medicals including for his immediate families, 10 percent house maintenance, 30 percent car maintenance, 10 percent entertainment, 20 percent utility, and several domestic staff.

Rivers State

100 percent of annual basic salaries for ex-governor and deputy, one residential house for former governor "anywhere of his choice in Nigeria"; one residential house anywhere in Rivers for the deputy, three cars for the ex-governor every four years; two cars for the deputy every four years, 300 percent of annual basic salary every four years en bloc, 10 percent of annual basic salary for house maintenance

Akwa Ibom

N200 million severance pay to ex governors, deputies, Pension for life at a rate equivalent to the salary of the incumbent governor/deputy governor respectively, a new official car and a utility vehicle every four years; one personal aide and provision of adequate security; a cook, chauffeurs and security guards for the governor at a sum not exceeding N5 million per month and N2.5 million for the deputy governor, free medical services for governor and spouse at an amount not exceeding N100 million for the governor per annum and N50 million for the deputy governor, five-bedroom mansion in Abuja and Akwa Ibom and allowance of 300 percent of annual basic salary for the deputy governor and furniture allowance of 300 percent of annual basic salary every four years.

Kano State 

100 percent of annual basic salaries for former governor and deputy, furnished and equipped office, as well as a 6-bedroom house; "well-furnished" 4-bedroom for deputy, plus an office, former governor is also entitled to free medical treatment along with his immediate families within and outside Nigeria where necessary, same for deputy, two drivers for former governor and a driver for his deputy; and personal staff below the rank of a Principal Administrative Officer and a PA not below grade level 10, 30- day vacation within and outside Nigeria.

Gombe State

N300 million executive pension benefits for the ex-governor.

Kwara State

former governor - two cars and a security car, replaceable every three years, a "well-furnished 5-bedroom duplex," furniture allowance of 300 per cent of his salary; five personal staff, three SSS, free medical care for the governor and the deputy, 30 percent of salary for car maintenance, 20 per cent for utility, 10 percent for entertainment, 10 per cent for house maintenance.

Zamfara State

Former governors - pension for life, two personal staff, two vehicles replaceable every four years, two drivers, free medical for the former governors and deputies and their immediate families in Nigeria or abroad, former governors, a 4-bedroom house in Zamfara and an office, free telephone and 30 days paid vacation outside Nigeria.

Sokoto State

Former governors and deputy governors are to receive for severance, N200 million and N180 million respectively being monetization for other entitlements which include domestic aides, residence and vehicles that could be renewed after every four years and “total annual pension to be paid to the governor and deputy governor, shall be at a rate equivalent to the annual total salary of the incumbent governor or deputy governor of the state respectively."

Rufus Kayode Oteniya  (RKO, 14.07.16)