Governor Godswill Akpabio has called on citizens of Akwa Ibom to commend rather than condemn him for the controversial Governors Pension Bill he sent to the State House of Assembly last week which has already received approval.
The bill grants all ex-Governors of the state, annual perks and allowances that totals billions of Naira.
The State Chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress called the Governor “greedy” for insisting on the bill, and condemned him for taking such huge pension benefits when thousands of former civil servants in the state were still owed pension.
State Commissioner for Information, Aniekan Umanah, speaking on behalf of the Governor on Planet FM 101.1 in Uyo, said, “The bill is simply an amendment to the law enacted in 2006. It exists in several states. What the bill seeks to achieve is limit endless medical expenditure.
“The old law didn’t put any cap on medical expenditure. There was no limit. But the governor in his own wisdom decided it was important we put a ceiling so that we don’t make it open ended any more.
“The governor is not seeking an amendment in his own interest, rather it is in the interest of the state because if you leave expenditure open ended it means you can spend close to N500million in one year without anybody stopping you since there is no law.
“People must also understand that medical expenses provision is not a payment provolone. It is not as if you have access to it. There are procedures before you can get it.”