Former Governor of Abia State and ex-Senator representing Abia Central district, Senator Theodore Orji, has vehemently denied receiving any pension from the Abia State Government since his departure from office in 2015. His denial comes in the wake of the recent abolition of the Abia State Governor’s and Deputy Governor’s Pensions Law by the State House of Assembly.
The Bill, titled “H.A.B 11: The Abia State Governor’s and Deputy Governor’s Pensions Law Repeal Bill 2024,” was championed by the Majority Leader and member representing Arochukwu state constituency, Hon. Okoro Uchenna Kalu.
Speaking through his former Chief Liaison Officer, Hon. Ifeanyi Umere, Senator Orji clarified that he had neither received nor requested any pension as a former Governor, emphasizing his decision to forgo pension payments out of moral conviction upon assuming office as a Senator immediately after his gubernatorial tenure.
Umere asserted, “Since T. A Orji left office as Governor, he has not received any penny as pension. He transited from Governor to Senate and he made it a point of morality that he will not, and he didn’t ask for any pension or question anybody about it because he is not interested in it.”
Senator Orji underscored his commitment to ethical leadership, affirming that he did not benefit from the scrapped pension law and had not received any pension under the administration of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.
Meanwhile, proponents of the Bill argued that its passage would contribute to reducing the state’s governance expenditure. They contended that redirecting funds allocated for former Governors and Deputy Governors’ pensions towards more beneficial initiatives would better serve the interests of the majority.
In a session characterized by consensus, members of the House of Assembly unanimously supported the bill’s passage. Speaker Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa commended his colleagues for their collective resolve to prioritize the welfare of the populace, affirming the Assembly’s commitment to enacting legislation aligned with the aspirations of Abians.