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Former governor of old Enugu State, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo has lamented what he described as non-payment of pensions to former governors in the state unlike other parts of the country.
He spoke at an Easter lunch with the Bishop of Nsukka Catholic Diocese, Most Rev. Godfrey Igwebuike Onah and other leaders in the zone at St Theresa’s Secondary School, Nsukka.
He said that former governors of the state and their deputies were not paid pensions like their counterparts in the country. He however pledged to contribute N2 million towards the completion of the cathedral which was started during his administration.
Nwodo did not explain further, but it was learnt for example that the former governors received about N200, 000 while their deputies received about N174,000 which represented their monthly salaries while in office.
They are not provided with vehicles or official drivers like in the neighbouring Imo State or Lagos State where their vehicles are changed every four years, prompting the former governor of old Anambra State, Chief Jim Nwobodo as well as Dr Nwodo and Dr Chimaroke Nnamani who governed the state from 1999 to 2007 to reject such payment.
Among those who graced the occasion were Governor Ifeanyi Ugwanyi of Enugu State, former Deputy Governor of the state, Dr Okechukwu Itanyi, Senator Chuka Utazi, the former Information Minister, Chief Nnia John Nwodo, former Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Eugene Odo, Chief Maduka Ugwu, Prof Charles Attah, Prof Simon Asogwa, Chief Sam Onyishi, Chief Vita Abbah, Dr Pat Asadu, Ambassador Kingsley Ebenyi, Chief Charles Nwodo, Steve Okolo and James Ajibo.
