Senate resolution: FG may pay Abiola family, Kingibe over N400m

GOING by the resolution of the Senate that the winner of June 12 1993 election, Chief Moshood Abiola and his running mate, Alhaji Baba Gana Kingibe, should be declared winners of the election and paid their entitlements, the Federal government may have to pay more than N400 million as compensation to the late Abiola’s family and Kingibe.

Both were the presidential candidate and running mate in the June 12, 1993 election that was annulled by the regime of former military President Ibrahim Babangida.

The Senate, at plenary on Thursday, resolved that Buhari should declare the duo ex-president and ex-vice president respectively and pay all entitlements due them.

Sunday Tribune conducted an investigation into how much the family of Abiola is likely to be paid as emoluments and entitlements duo in compliance with the resolution of the Senate.

According to the 2007 Remuneration Act for political officeholders, the president is entitled to an annual basis salary of N3,514,705, while the vice president earns N3,031,572.50.

Since the two officers are not entitled to monetisation of most of their allowances, they are only entitled to 50 per cent of their basic salary as hardship allowance, 10 per cent leave allowance, 250 per cent as constituency allowance and 300 per cent of basic as severance gratuity.

For Abiola, his emoluments for the four-year period of October 1, 1993 and September 31, 1997 will amount to N68,185,277 made up of: basic salary- N14,058,820; hardship allowance-N7,029,410; leave allowance-  N1,405,882; constituency allowance- N35,147,050 and; severance gratuity- N10,544,115.

Kingibe, on the other hand, would earn N58,763,506.50 from: basic salary- N12,126,290; hardship allowance- N6,063,145; leave allowance- N1,212,629; constituency allowance- N30,315,725 and; severance gratuity- N9,094,717.

In addition, through Decree 32 of 1999, Nigeria commenced payment of entitlements to former presidents, their deputies and former parliamentary leaders.

This transformed into the remuneration of former Presidents, heads of Federal Legislative Houses and Chief Justices of the Federation (and other Ancillary Matters) Act of 2001.

In it, former presidents and heads of state were entitled to N4.2 million annually, while past vice presidents and past chiefs of general staff were entitled to N3 million per annum for their up-keep.

“As from the commencement of this Act, all former-Presidents and Heads of State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (in this Act referred to as “former Heads of State”) shall be-(i) paid the sum of N350,000 per month as up-keep allowance; and (ii) entitled to the perquisites of office specified in Part I of the Schedule to this Act; and (b)Vice-Presidents and Chiefs of General Staff of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (in this Act referred to as “former Vice-Presidents”) shall be- (i) paid the sum of N250,000 per month as up-keep allowance; and (ii) entitled to the perquisites of office specified in Part II of the Schedule to this Act.”

The Act also made provisions for domestic staff, security aides, vehicles and up-keep allowances for families of deceased presidents.

Since he died on July 7,1998, Abiola would not be entitled to an officer not below the rank of a chief administrative officer; a personal secretary not below Grade Level 12; three to four armed policemen; one Department State Service (DSS) officer not below Grade Level 10 as an Aide-de-Camp to be attached for life and paid by the State Security Agencies; three vehicles to be bought by the Federal Government and liable to be replaced every four years; and drivers to be paid by the Federal Government and other benefits.

Kingibe, however, will henceforth be provided with: an officer not below the rank of a chief administrative officer; a personal secretary not below Grade Level 10, two to three armed policemen; one DSS officer not below Grade Level 8 as an Aide de Camp to be attached for life and paid by the State Security Agencies; two vehicles to be replaced every four years.

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He will also have drivers paid for by the Federal Government; free medical treatment for them and their immediate families within Nigeria; treatment abroad where necessary; 30 days’ annual vacation within and outside Nigeria at Federal Government expense; a modestly well-furnished and equipped office in any location of their choice in Nigeria; a well-furnished three-bedroom house in any location of their choice in Nigeria.

According to the 1999 law, amended in 2008 and 2010, remuneration of the former leaders shall be subject to review whenever there is an increase in the salary of the serving President and Vice-President; and the Federal Government shall in its annual budget make provision for the remuneration of former Heads of State and former Vice-Presidents.

Abiola’s family would be entitled to the payment of the sum of N1,000,000 per annum, which would amount to N18 million calculated since 1999 for the up-keep of the spouse and education of the children his up university level.

The money spent on education of his children still in school when he died would also be calculated and paid.

In 2008 and 2010, the Act was amended to give Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, (RMAFC) the mandate to fix remunerations of the ex-leaders from time to time in line with economic realities, especially whenever the salary of the serving President is raised. Federal Government also make provision for the remuneration of former heads of state and former vice-presidents in its annual budgets.

In the case of death, the family of an ex-president is entitled to the sum of N1 million per annum payable in the sum of N250,000 per quarter, and the deceased former Vice-President’s the sum of N750,000 per annum payable in the sum of N187, 500 per quarter. The allowances applied to the upkeep of the spouse and education of the children of deceased former leaders up to the university level.