Profligate governor, Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom state has blazed another trail in mismanagement of public funds with a new pension bill passed by the Akwa Ibom House of Assembly some days ago.
According to details of the pension bill made available to National Infinity, Akpabio, who, not long ago, got a warning from the Debt Management Office due to the very high debt profile he has built for the state in the last 7 years, will alongside his spouse, receive a total package of about N200m annually for as pension and gratuity for life. 
In the bill known as the Akwa Ibom State Governors and Deputy Governors Pension Law 2014, engineered by the governor who also influenced its quick passage, it also provides generous pension and gratuity for past deputy governors and their spouses for life.
Even at face value, the new law, which also covers all elected former governors of Akwa Ibom origin who served in the old Cross River State, has been described as highly irresponsible and a further entrenchment of the culture of stealing instititionalised in Akwa Ibom by Gov. Akpabio. Noted, the Akwa Ibom Collectives, a social critic group based Uyo. The group called the new bill “an anti-people law that should not be allowed to stand in a civilized society”.
It would be noted that Akpabio has ran Akwa Ibom’s finances aground through highly over inflated projects in the last 7 years without establishing a single industry to create employments.
Confidants told National Infinity that the package, which was hastily passed and signed into law within two weeks of being forwarded to the state house of assembly by Governor Godswill Akpabio, a governor and his deputy, who have served for more than three years in office would be entitled to a gratuity at 100 per cent of their annual salaries, and an annual pension – for life – at the rate of 300 per cent of their current salaries.
Furthermore, the governor, according to the new law, will be entitled to a mansion fit for a king in the state and Abuja, domestic servants to be paid N5 million per month, and many other luxuries at the expense of Akwa Ibom taxpayers. This is a state where the governor announced N21,000 per month as the minimum wage in May, 2012.
With the new arrangement, when implemented, the bill places Akpabio as the highest paid Public Officer in the world. It makes President Obama’s $400,000 per annum salary as sitting president a chicken feed compared to Akpabio’s annual health allowance of $600,000.
Prodigal Governor, Godswill Akpabio Gets N200m Annual Pension For Life, Gets mansions fit for kings in Uyo and Abuja, domestic servants gets N5 million per month
