Gov. Akpabio Reportedly Seeks N100 Million Medical Retirement Benefit

Governor of Akwa Ibom, Godswill Akpabio, has reportedly presented a bill to the State House of Assembly asking to be paid N100 million every year for his medical bills, as part of his pensions package.

He is allegedly proposing that this pensions package should be available to not just him, but also to all elected former governors and deputy governors of the state, Punch reports.

According to the bill, the beneficiaries must have held office as a democratically elected governor or deputy governor of former Cross River State or as a democratically elected governor or deputy governor of the state.  The bill also makes provisions for a “furniture allowance of 300 per cent of annual basic salary once in every four years.”

Here are excerpts from the bill:

“…the person upon ceasing to hold the said office, shall be entitled to “Pension for life at a rate equivalent to the salary of the incumbent governor or deputy governor respectively.

A new official car and a utility vehicle once in every four years, one personal aide and the provision of adequate security for his person during his lifetime at the expense of government;

Provision of funds to employ a cook, chauffeurs and security guards for the governor at a sum not exceeding N5 million (or the equivalent of $50,000) per month and N2 million per month for the deputy governor;

Provision of free medical services for his person and spouse at a sum not exceeding N100 million per annum for the governor and N30 million per annum for the deputy governor.

Provision of a befitting house not below a five-bedroom maisonette in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja or Akwa Ibom State for the governor and a yearly accommodation allowance of 300 per cent of annual basic salary for the deputy governor.

Provision of yearly maintenance and fuelling of vehicle allowance of 300 per cent of annual basic salary;

Provision of severance gratuity of 300 per cent of annual basic salary as at the time the officer leaves office;

Yearly utility allowance of 100 per cent of annual basic salary;

Provision of entertainment allowance of 100 per cent of annual basic salary.”

In addition, the bill states that when the beneficiary passes away, the state will bear all financial costs of burial arrangements, and also pay an allowance of an amount equivalent to the annual basic salary of the incumbent to his next of kin.

Also, one surviving spouse is to be provided with medical allowances of up to N12 million annually  provided that such spouse was married to the governor at the time he or she was in office.

According to reports, the House is considering passing the bill today.