Saraki no longer collects pensions – Kwara Govt

In a statement on Wednesday that the attention of the state government had been drawn to issues surrounding the payment of pensions to the former governors of the state, especially Saraki.

The SSG stated that Saraki, as a two-term governor, was entitled to a pension as stipulated by the Third Schedule, Paragraph D (i) of the Governor and Deputy Governor (payment of pension) Law, No. 12 of 2010 of Kwara State.

He added that the said pension had been duly remitted to his account, like other former governors, since he left office.

He, however, said that via a letter dated August 20, 2015 addressed to the state government, Saraki had requested that the payment of pension to his account be stopped and that the amount already credited to the account be returned to the government.

Gold said,  “The government did not only stop the payment of the said pension, the amount already paid into Saraki’s account since he left office was deducted from the money owed to him as well as his other outstanding lawful entitlements.”

When asked how much Saraki had refunded, the state Commissioner of Finance,  Alhaji Demola Banu; and the Senior Special Assistant to the Kwara State Governor on Media and Communication, Dr. Muyideen Akorede, said they were making efforts to get the amount of pensions refunded by the Senate President.

Banu confirmed that Saraki was no longer collecting pension and had refunded the ones he already collected. He said he would get the actual amount of pensions that Saraki refunded from the state Accountant-General.

Banu said, “I confirm that the Senate President is no longer collecting pensions.  He has also refunded the pensions he collected in the past. I will get the actual amount from the state Accountant-General.”

Akorede said, “I am making efforts to get the actual amount from the Secretary to the Kwara State Government, Alhaji Isiaka Gold.”