The Kano State House of Assembly on Monday commenced a process to amend the state law that provided pension and gratuity for former governors and deputy governors.
The decision to commence the amendment of the law followed a motion of urgent public importance raised before the legislature by a member, Alhaji Labaran Madari (APC), representing Warawa Constituency.
According to Madari, the amendment of the law is to reduce unnecessary spending of public funds through payments to former governors and deputy governors who are also holding political offices after their tenures. Madari said that the decision to review the existing law was to suspend such payments pending when the person would no longer hold any other political office.
The member also said that any deputy governor who later become governor due to any reason, his pension as former deputy would also be stopped. He said that the decision was necessary due to economic issues caused by the over dependence on crude oil by past administrations. “As representatives of the people, it is our responsibility to find ways to reduce the burden on government so as to enable it execute projects that are of benefits to the general public,” the legislator said.
The assembly members at a plenary presided by the Speaker, Alhaji Abdullahi Ata, suggested the creation of an ad-hoc committee to handle the issue. The assembly set up an ad-hoc committee under the leadership of the House Majority Whip, Alhaji Kabiru Hassan-Dashi, and was given two weeks to submit its report. (NAN)