Let’s examine the reported pension entitlements and retirement benefits of five former governors: Godswill Akpabio, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nyesom Wike, Dave Umahi and Peter Obi.

Interestingly, while some former governors are entitled to enormous retirement packages funded by taxpayers, Peter Obi has refused to collect his pension and has not collected it since leaving office as Governor of Anambra State.

Let’s look at what the laws provide in these states and Peter Obi’s different position.

1. AKWA IBOM STATE – FORMER GOVERNOR GODSWILL AKPABIO

Under the reported amended pension package, former governors are entitled to:

• ₦200 million annually as pension.
• Up to ₦100 million annually for medical expenses.
• Up to ₦5 million monthly for domestic staff, chauffeurs and security.
• Two official vehicles every four years.
• Five-bedroom accommodation in Abuja or Akwa Ibom.
• Furniture and other allowances.

2. LAGOS STATE – FORMER GOVERNOR BOLA AHMED TINUBU

Under its original pension law, former governors enjoyed:

• Pension for life.
• Official vehicles, replaceable every four years.
• Medical benefits.
• Allowances and support staff.
• Residential benefits.

However, Lagos State amended its pension law in 2021, reducing pension entitlements by 50% and removing some benefits.

3. RIVERS STATE – FORMER GOVERNOR NYESOM WIKE

The reported retirement benefits for former governors include:

• Pension equivalent to 100% of the incumbent governor’s annual basic salary.
• Three new vehicles every four years.
• Residential accommodation anywhere in Nigeria.
• Medical treatment for themselves and their families.
• Furniture allowance.
• Security personnel and domestic staff.

4. EBONYI STATE – FORMER GOVERNOR DAVE UMAHI

Under the Ebonyi State Political Office Holders Amendment Law of 2011, former Governor Dave Umahi is entitled to retirement benefits, including:

• Continued salary payments as pension.
• Four official vehicles.
• Two personal aides.
• Five security operatives.
• Three drivers.
• Three cooks.
• Annual medical allowance equivalent to 10% of his annual pension.

Note: The exact monthly naira amount payable to Dave Umahi has not been independently established from the published reports available to me. I will not attribute pension figures belonging to previous Ebonyi governors to him.

5. ANAMBRA STATE – FORMER GOVERNOR PETER OBI

Peter Obi stands out among these former governors because he refused to collect his pension after leaving office and has not collected it.

Rather than take advantage of the retirement benefits available to him as a former governor, he chose not to collect the pension.

This is an example worth discussing in a country where political office is often seen as an opportunity to secure lifetime financial benefits.

Why should a former governor continue to enjoy enormous benefits after leaving office, while ordinary civil servants who spend 30 or 35 years serving their states sometimes struggle to receive their retirement benefits?

How do we justify these retirement packages when ordinary pensioners are still waiting for their entitlements?

Peter Obi’s decision not to collect his pension presents an important question: Must occupying the office of governor automatically translate into a lifetime of financial comfort at the expense of taxpayers?

Leadership should be about public service, not an opportunity to secure a lifetime of financial comfort using public resources.

Nigerians deserve transparency. Every state government should publish the amount spent annually on former governors’ pensions, allowances, vehicles, medical expenses and other retirement benefits.

PUBLIC OFFICE IS A CALL TO SERVICE, NOT A LIFETIME INVESTMENT IN PERSONAL COMFORT AT THE EXPENSE OF THE PEOPLE.