Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, a human rights activist, has commended the Abia State Governor, Mr Alex Otti, for blazing the trail in repealing the law on pensions payment to ex-governors and their deputies.

Okei-Odumakin, also the President of Women Arise for Change Initiative, gave the commendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos.

The human rights activist, who also lauded the state House of Assembly on its passage, called on other states to follow suit, in enacting such law.

Otti had, on Thursday, signed the Abia State of Nigeria Governors and Deputy Governors Pension Repeal bill of 2024 into law.

He described the new law as part of the efforts made to promote good governance and stewardship in Abia.

The governor’s action came after the Abia State House of Assembly had on Tuesday passed the bill to stop payment of pension to former governors and their deputies in the state.

The Bill was entitled: “(H.A.B 11 for a Law to Revoke the Abia State Governors and Deputy Governors Pensions Law No 4 of 2001 and for other Matters connected therewith.”

Okei-Odumakin said that public service is about stewardship and management of the people’s commonwealth.

“The revolutionary passage of an Executive Bill to stop payment of pensions to former governors and their deputies in Abia State led by Mr Alex Otti is a commendable one.

“We expect that other well-meaning state governors would follow suit,” she said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the law strips former governors and their deputies in the state of life pension benefits after their tenures.

Payment of such pensions to former governors and deputies in many states has over the years attracted controversy, with critics describing the packages as outrageous. (NAN)

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