Imo government says it is illegal to pay pensions to ex-governorsThe Imo state governor, Hope Uzodinma, has faulted the payment of pensions and gratuities to former governors - Uzodinma disclosed that he has assented to a bill repealing the law that allowed pensions to be paid to former officeholders - The governor noted that the payment of allowances to former officer holders is contrary to the 1999 constitution PAY ATTENTION: Click “See First” under the “Following” tab to see Legit.ng News on your Facebook News Feed! The Imo state governor, Hope Uzodinma, has said it is illegal for former governors, deputy governors, assembly speakers and deputy speakers to be paid pensions and gratuities. Uzodinma at the government house in Owerri on Thursday, May 21, said he has assented to a bill repealing the law that allowed pensions to be paid to the above category of persons, Vanguard newspaper reports. He noted that paying pensions to such former officeholders was designed to allow a few privileged people to feed fat on the commonwealth of the people. Read also Just in: Makinde speaks on whether Oyo state will lift ban on religious gathering or not ahead of Eid-l-Fitr Uzodinma stated that the law which prescribed pensions for past governors of the state runs contrary to the 1999 constitution as amended, which stipulates that a pensioner must have worked for at least 10 years and must be up to 45 years of age. He also questioned the rationale behind paying pensions to officials who collect huge severance allowances at the end of their tenure. Legit.ng had earlier reported that the Imo state House of Assembly has passed into law a bill that would stop past governors and speakers from receiving their pensions and other privileges. The Sun reports that the executive bill was presented on Thursday, May 21, by the majority leader of the House, Uche Ogbuagu, and given accelerated hearing. PAY ATTENTION: Get the Latest Nigerian News Anywhere 24/7. Spend less on the Internet! Legit.ng gathered that Imo state House of Assembly repealed the 2007 pension act which effectively stripped ex-governors, their deputies, and ex-speakers of their pensions and privileges. Read also Eid-Fitr: Zamfara govt pays May salaries, warns workers to maintain social distancing in banks Leading the debate at the plenary, the chief sponsor, Ogbuagu, noted that if the bill is signed into law it would be a strip of all pensions and privileges of ex-governors, deputies, ex-speakers and speakers who had served the state. In another news report, Governor Hope Uzodinma on Wednesday, May 20, signed Executive Order No. 002, 2020 significantly reducing Right of Way (ROW) of telecommunication companies in the state from N4500 to N145 per meter in tandem with recent federal government policy. The order explained that the reduction was a manifestation of the state government’s determination to spur the telecommunication companies to further invest in broadband infrastructure and to trigger ancillary on-line services, especially in the field of education. The order further said that the government was hopeful that the drastic reduction from N4500 of the broadband ROW to N145 per liner meter of fibre, will accelerate the deployment of affordable, and reliable modern high-speed connectivity in the state. Read also Femi Adesina discloses why Nigeria has the capacity to take more loans The Executive Order urged telecommunication companies to note that the state plays host to a vibrant youthful demography located in many tertiary institutions, who form the bulk of the end-users of their products. Meanwhile, a report by The Nation has indicated that the crisis rocking the Imo state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is deepening as top officials in the party have resigned their positions. According to the report, the PDP's publicity secretary, Damien Opara, joined the gale of resignation on Thursday, May 21 “on personal grounds.” A few days ago, the state chairman of the PDP, Barrister Charles Ezekwem resigned his position. The ex-chairman, who has since joined the All Progressives Congress (APC), accused an unamed PDP chieftain of hijacking the party structure in the state. Jubilation as Supreme Court declares Uzodinma Imo state governor | Legit TV Source: Legit.ng The Imo state governor, Hope Uzodinma, has faulted the payment of pensions and gratuities to former governors - Uzodinma disclosed that he has assented to a bill repealing the law that allowed pensions to be paid to former officeholders - The governor noted that the payment of allowances to former officer holders is contrary to the 1999 constitution PAY ATTENTION PAY ATTENTION