Rivers Assembly Passes Controversial Pension And Fringe Benefits Bill For Odili, Amaechi, Others

PORT HARCOURT, May 23, (THEWILL) - The Rivers House of Assembly has passed the highly controversial bill on pension and other fringe benefits to former governors and their deputies in the State.

Deliberating during plenary session at the floor of the House on the Pension and Other Fringe Benefits To Public Office Holders Bill 2012, the member representing Okrika Constituency, Hon. Belema Okpokiri said serving or retired governors and their deputies should be provided accommodation within the state. He pointed out that the move is as part of efforts to develop the area where the former governors hail from.

In his contribution, Hon. Golden Chioma said the medical treatment contained in the bill is for the immediate family of the governors and their deputies, as the law provides. He added that any of the children above 18 years should not benefit from the medical care. According to the lawmaker, governors and deputies who leave office within the next 24 months should benefit.

Also, the member representing Asari-Toru 2, Hon. Ben Horsfall, in his submission, suggested that proper ingredients should be part of the amendment.

Hon Chinwo Victor Phalga kicked against the bill.
Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Otelema Dan Amachree, in his ruling, thanked members for their contributions. Twenty-two members voted in support of the bill as amended while two abstained from voting.

With the bill now passed, its beneficiaries would be given two houses in any area of their choice in Abuja and in Rivers State. They would also receive three brand new cars that would be replaced every three years. Other material benefits include 100 per cent of the basic salary of the incumbent governor, 300 per cent of basic salary as furniture allowance, 20 per cent for utilities and 10 per cent for entertainment.

They would equally get eight police officers for personal and domestic security, another two officers of the State Security Service, and domestic staff such as stewards, gardeners, cooks, and drivers to be paid from the state account.