Respect ruling on life perks for ex- govs, SERAP urges Tinubu

• HEDA begs for FIIRO’S rescue

SOCIO- ECONOMIC

Rights and Accountability Project ( SERAP) has urged President Bola Tinubu to obey the judgment ordering the Federal Government to recover pensions from former governors and discourage life perks for erstwhile political office holders.

The group recalled that the ruling was delivered on November 26, 2019 by Justice Oluremioguntoyinbo in a suit it initiated.

In a letter at the weekend by its deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP stated: “Unless the judgment is immediately obeyed, former governors and their deputies, including those now serving as ministers in your administration and members of the National Assembly, who receive pensions, would continue to evade justice for their actions.”

It noted that immediate obedience of the judgment would enhance rule of law and protect integrity of the country’s legal system.

The organisation regretted that while many Nigerian workers and pensioners have not been paid by the states for several months, ex- governors keep drawing emoluments and living extravagantly. I N another development, the Human and Environmental Development Agenda ( HEDA Resource Centre) has pleaded with the Nigerian leader to rescue the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi ( FIIRO).

Emphasising productivity, the group also sought return of the Director- General’s office to Lagos.

In a correspondence at the weekend, its chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, called on the President to direct Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji to revive the agency for utmost productivity.