'I've stopped collecting pension as ex-governor', Senate President says

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) had accused former governors, who are now senators or ministers, of receiving double pay from government - pension from their jobs and salary in their new positions.

"No, I’m not collecting pension; the moment I saw that allegation, I wrote to my state to stop my pension," Punch quoted the Senate President as saying.

"So, I speak for myself on that part; I’m not doing that, I am not receiving pension from my state."

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Commenting on the other Senators involved in the issue, Saraki said the decision to stop receiving pension is up to them as it is not against any law.

He said, "I think I will leave everybody to their individual decision.

"Morally, if you have got another job, you should give it up until when you are truly a pensioner.

"Some of these oversights are not addressing the issues. What the states should do is to go and amend their laws to say that if you have another appointment then you are not entitled to that benefit.

"With this, we will just simplify the matter."

Also speaking on the role of Bank of Infrastructure in the country, Saraki said that the Senate has really had any interface with the bank.

"We are not engaging with them particularly. I think that they were part of those involved in the Lagos-Ibadan road. But, I don’t think government should really put funds into that," he said.

"I have this strong view and I feel very strongly about it, that nowhere in the world has government funded infrastructure.

"Government cannot, and even if government can fund infrastructure projects, the social sector will suffer – health will suffer and education will suffer."

He attributed the complaints about insufficient budgetary allocation to health and education to the fact that much money was being invested in infrastructure development.