Edo Assembly approves N200m house for rich Oshiomhole

In what could be described as outrageous, the Edo State House of Assembly on Wednesday amended the state pension bill to provide for a N200m house for former governor Adams Oshiomhole who already has a multi-million naira mansion which he built while in office.

If assented to by Governor Godwin Obaseki, the new amendment provides for residential buildings worth N200 million for the past governor of the state, Adams Oshiomhole and his deputy, Pius Odubu, N100m, as part of their pension benefits.

Adams Oshiomhole and Pius Odubu last Saturday completed two tenures of eight years as governor and deputy governor of the state respectively.

The bill titled, “A bill for a law to amend the 2007 Pension Rights of the Governor and Deputy Governor Law” was approved by the House at the committee of the whole.

The only amendment to the pension rights of the governor and the deputy governor was for the duo to enjoy residential buildings worth N200 million and N100 million respectively in any location of their choice in Nigeria.

According to the bill with the subhead titled, “provision of a house” read thus; a house in a location of choice in Nigeria of the Governor, provided that the total cost of building the house shall not be in excess of N200 million while N100 million for the Deputy Governor.”

Other benefits to be enjoyed by the governor are a pension for life at a rate equivalent to 100 percent of his last annual salary in addition to an officer not above salary grade level 12 as Special Assistant, a personal secretary not below grade level 10 who shall be selected by the former governor from the public service of Edo State.

He is also entitled to have two cooks, two armed policemen as security, three vehicles to be bought by the State Government and liable to be replaced every five years, three drivers who shall be selected by the former governor and paid by the state government as well as free medical treatment for the governor and his immediate family.

On the other hand, the Deputy Governor was entitled to 100 percent of his last annual salary as pension, a personal staff not above salary grade level 12 as Special Assistant, a Personal Secretary not below grade level 09 who shall be selected by the former deputy governor from the public service of the state, a cook, two policemen for security.

Also approved for him are two vehicles to be bought by the State Government and liable to be replaced every five years; two drivers who shall be selected by the former Deputy Governor and paid by the State Government and free medical treatment for him and his immediate family.