Gbenga Daniel Asks Governor Abiodun To Suspend His Pension, Allowances

By Adesina Soyooye

A former two-term  Governor of Ogun State, Gbenga Daniel, has asked the State Government to suspend the payment of his pension and all allowances due to him as a former Governor.

Daniel, now the Senator, representing Ogun East Senatorial District, made this request in a letter dated June 14, 2023, addressed to the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun.

In the letter titled Request To Suspend My Monthly Pension And Allowances, Daniel said he made the request for the suspension in good conscience, moral principles and guiding ethics.

He explained: “After my inauguration at the Senate, I wrote to H.E. Prince Dapo Abiodun, MFR, CON, on June 14, 2023, to notify him of my decision to have the monthly payment of N676, 376. 95 kobo being gross payment for my pension and allowances as former Governor of Ogun State suspended immediately.

“This decision I made in good conscience, moral principles and guiding ethics.

“It is also important to State that this is the only payment and package I get from the State Government as a former Governor.”

His letter to Abiodun reads:

“I write to request for the suspension of my monthly pension/allowances of N676,376.95 (gross), (Six hundred and seventy six thousand, three hundred and seventy six Naira, Ninety Five Kobo), being paid as a former Governor of Ogun State.

“The request is in compliance with my conscience, moral principle, and ethical code against double emoluments that a serving Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who hitherto was a former State Governor, shall not be entitled to the payment of pension and allowances from such State.

“It would be recalled that on Tuesday, 13th June 2023, I was, with other elected Senators and Members of the House of Representatives, inaugurated as Member of the 10th National Assembly.

“It is important to also have it on record that since I left the office in 2011, I have not benefitted from any welfare packages, be it Medical, Furniture, transportation, etc.

“Thanks in anticipation.”

The question of former Governors elected to the National Assembly, and still receiving pensions/allowances from their States has been a nagging one, seen by not a few people as fraudulent, which ought to be stopped, short of asking those who have been receiving same to refund to the treasuries of their individual States.