Former Zamfara governor laments the fact that he is owed allowance and pension arrears of over N30m

FORMER Zamfara State governor Abdulaziz Yari has asked his successor Governor Bello Matawalle to pay him his three-month upkeep allowance arrears which currently totals about N30m ($82,500) as well as his annual pension which is equal to a governor's salary.

Governor Yari, was in office between 2011 and 2019, is entitled to a monthly upkeep of N10m, made up of allowances and pensions. He has recently written to incumbent Governor Matawalle saying that he is owed arrears for August, September and October and would appreciate it if the payments are made immediately.

In the letter titled Grant of pension and other allowances for former governor, former deputy governor, former speaker and former deputy speaker of Zamfara State, Governor Yari held that his demand was in line with the provision of the law assented to on March 23, 2019. Holding on the provisions of the said law, Governor Yari held that since the pension and upkeep allowance was not in the category of privileges that can be truncated, Governor Matawalle should direct the settlement of his backlog of upkeep and pension.

His letter read: “I wish to humbly draw your attention to the provision of the law on the above subject matter which was amended and assented to on the 23rd of March, 2019. The law provides, among other entitlements of the former governor, a monthly upkeep allowance of ten million naira (N10,000,000) only and a pension equivalent to the salary he was receiving while in office.

“Accordingly, you may wish to be informed that since the expiration of my tenure on the 29th of May, 2019, I was only paid the upkeep allowance twice i.e. for the month of June and July while my pension for the month of June has not been paid. As the law provides the pension and upkeep allowance are not in the category of privileges that can be truncated without any justifiable reason, hence, the need to request you to kindly direct the settlement of the total backlog of the pension and upkeep as provided by the law.

“While thanking you most sincerely for the anticipated positive action, please accept my high regard and esteem.”