SERAP IS ASKING GOVERNOR OBASEKI NOT TO SIGN AMENDED LAW WHICH APPROVES N200M FOR OSHIOMHOLE.

                According to sources ,Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project {SERP} has asked Governor Godwin Obaseki not to sign the amended law by the state House of Assembly which approved N200m house for the former governor of Edo State,Adams OshiomholeIn a statement issued today thursday,SERAP condemned the N300 million mansion retirement benefits for Oshiomhole and the N100m house approved for his former deputy, Dr Pius Odubu.SERAP called on Governor Godwin Obaseki to ''immediately withdraw the bill,and use the funds to clear the backlog of pension arrears spanning between seven and 45 month.''.This followed reports of amendment of Law for Pension Rights of the Governor and Deputy Governor by the Edo State House of Assembly ,with the immediate past governor and deputy governor expected to be some of the beneficiaries.The new amendment contains provisions of residential buildings worth N200m and N100m for tthe governor and his deputy at the expiration of their tenures.The bill also provides that the buildings could be sited in any location of their choice.''Coming at a time the Edo State government can't even pay its pensioners and salaries of workers,the amendment by the Edo State House of Assembly is immoral,unfair,unconstitutional ,unreasonable,and a rip-off on a massive scale.Governor Obasaki must reject this grotesque bill if he's to fulfil his election promises and lift millions of Edo State pensioners out of extreme poverty,'' SERAP executive director Adetokunbo Mumubi said.''This so-called proposed legislation means that millions of Edo pensioners and workers will have to fund the massive and unjust pensions for former governor Oshiomhole and his deputy and others that will come after them.Many of the retirees whose pensions have not been paid have been evicted from their apartments due to their inability to pay their rents.According to SERAP's information,one of such retirees is Ihama Friday who at 60 is now squatting with friends.Another pensioner Osa-Aighobarueghiaa who retired as a head-teacher continues to live a life of debts because the Edo State government has refused to pay her 30 months pension benefits.SERAP is aware that the Edo State government is not the only state passing such obnoxious pension laws to provide outtrageous retirement benefits an putting their personal bank accounts ahead of the common good.SERA is finalising a comprehensive legal strategy to challenge these unjust laws and to name and shame those who continue to benefit from such laws''.