Allowance Suspension: Some Former Govs May Not Be Happy With Me – Gbenga Daniel

A former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel has said some of his colleagues who are former governors may not be happy with his decision to stop collecting the monthly pension being paid to him by the State government.

Daniel stated this on Tuesday during an appearance on Sunrise Daily, a current affairs programme on Channels Television.

The Ogun East Senator said he did not know how the letter he wrote to Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State became public because it was not meant for public consumption.

Recall that Daniel had asked the Ogun Governor to stop the monthly pension and allowance being paid to him by the State government.

In a letter titled, ‘Request To Suspend My Monthly Pension and Allowances’, the Ogun Senator said the suspension of the pension was in compliance with his conscience, moral principls and ethical code against double emoluments.

Daniel also disclosed that since he left the office in 2011, he had not benefitted from any welfare packages which include medical, furniture, and transportation.

Speaking during the interview, the former governor said he would advise his colleagues who are also in the National Assembly to suspend their allowances following the harsh reality and high level of poverty in the country.

Daniel said the reason behind his decision to ask the state government to stop his pensions was because he doesn’t want to be receiving double remuneration having returned to public service after 12 years.

He said: “I remember there was indeed a court judgement which SERAP got basically saying that people should not be entitled to double payment, especially if you now have another kind of public office. But even before then, naturally, a human being should not be entitled to double remuneration.

“So, for me like I said earlier on, for about 12 years I was not in public service, now that I am back in public service let me just make sure that I tidy things up and somebody just pointed out to me and say why don’t I just remind the governor that I am not here and he should please stop the monthly pension that he was paying and hopefully when I am out of the Senate we check what the law says.”

He added that if after his stay at the Senate and it happens that Senators have emoluments, he may continue with that or revert to the one the Ogun State government was paying him as a former governor.

The former governor said the reactions to the development clearly indicate that things that appear to be normal are becoming unusual in the country.

Daniel also said that the reactions show that people are not happy with public figures any longer as they are sceptical that the officials will not do the right thing.

The Senator added that it is high time public officers started to lay good examples of a better society where the value system is the order of the day.