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Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has initiated legal proceedings against President Bola Tinubu. The lawsuit pertains to the alleged failure to prevent former governors, currently serving as ministers in his administration, from receiving life pensions and other “retirement benefits” from their respective states while simultaneously holding ministerial positions.
In a statement released on Sunday, Kolawole Oluwadare, the Deputy Director of SERAP, identified the following ministers: Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Bello Matawalle (Zamfara), and Adegboyega Oyetola (Osun).
The suit also lists other former governors as defendants, namely Badaru Abubakar (Jigawa), David Umahi (Ebonyi), Simon Lalong (Plateau), Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), and Ibrahim Geidam (Yobe). Additionally, SERAP has stated that the ministers should be included as defendants in the suit.
Oluwadare announced that a lawsuit bearing the identification number FHC/L/CS/1855/2023 was officially lodged last Friday at the Federal High Court in Lagos. The rights group is pursuing an “order of mandamus” that would compel President Tinubu to instruct former governors, now serving as ministers, to cease receiving life pensions and other ‘retirement benefits’ from their respective states.
SERAP contends that requiring and guiding President Tinubu to halt the former governors’ receipt of any ‘retirement benefits’ during their tenure as ministers would be in the best interest of the public, particularly in light of the current challenging economic conditions in the nation.
The appointment of individuals who are already receiving life pensions and other ‘retirement benefits’ as ministers is seen as a discretionary and unlawful exercise of presidential appointment powers.
While numerous pensioners go unpaid, former governors who have taken up ministerial roles receive substantial severance benefits upon leaving office, thereby potentially enjoying dual income streams in addition to the lavish perks of political office.
“The Tinubu administration is bound by both constitutional and international legal obligations to prevent former governors from receiving ‘retirement benefits while serving as ministers.’
As of now, no specific date has been scheduled for the hearing of this case.”
