KADUNA HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY OUTLAWS FOREIGN MEDICAL TRIP FOR EX-STATE GVT. OFFICIALS

Kaduna State House of Assembly has legalized a bill to stop the state government from financing medical bills of former Governors and Deputy Governors.
The new law also says no furniture and office accommodation allowances for former Governors and Deputy Governors.
The passage of the law, which now reads Pension and Gratuity (Governor and Deputy Governor) Amendment Law, 2013, followed its third reading on the floor of the House yesterday and runs against the proposal by the Executive of the state, which stated that the duo should enjoy free medical treatment in and outside the country with his/her immediate members of the family.
The law is now amended to read former governor and deputy governor be treated in any government hospital within the country with his/her four family members.

At the Hose sitting, Speaker, Kaduna State House of Assembly, Mu’azu Usman Gangara, said the purpose of the law was to make provision for personal assistant, facilities and additional benefits in addition to those stipulated in the principal law to the governor and deputy governor upon their completion of tenure in office.
Section 4 of the principal law amended reads: “Provision of a 4-bedroom duplex, well furnished, with not more than three and two parlours respectively, within the state to be provided once and to replace the six and five bedroom respectively house at their choice of location.

“Provision of two brand new and fully insured vehicles (a Sports Utility Van and saloon car provided once and non-customised) for the governor while the deputy governor should be provided with one brand new vehicle fully insured (a Sports Utility Van provided once and non-customised) replaced 2 brand new and one vehicle request of the Executive”
The Utility Allowance of the Executive Governor and the Deputy Governor, after leaving office was also slashed down from 30 per cent yearly basic salary to 10 per cent as against their counterparts in Akwa Ibom with 50 per cent of yearly basic salary.
The request for two personal assistants not below Grade Level 10 and 12 for the governor and one personal assistant not below Grade Level 10 for the deputy governor was replaced by one personal assistant not below Grade Level 10 and 8 for the governor and deputy governor respectively.
The members also lamented poor transmission of electronic media in the state while deliberating on a motion on the need to improve the reception of the state-owned electronic media outfits to cement harmonious relationship between different organs of government and the public.
The House referred the motion to its Committee on Information and Home Affairs for indepth study, investigation, as well as recommendation and submit its findings to the House on October 31, 2013. (DAILY POST)