Ex Zamfara Governor Yari Demands Payment of N10 million Monthly Allowance

by Damilare Famuyiwa

Former Zamfara governor, Abdulaziz Yari has written his successor, Bello Matawalle over the non-payment of his outstanding monthly allowance and pension.

In a letter dated October 17, 2019, Yari addressed the incumbent state governor, informing him that he (Yari) is entitled to N10 million monthly as upkeep allowance, but that he has only been paid twice since he left the office.

Gov. Bello Matawalle of Zamfara had vowed to arrest his predecessor, Yari if killings continue in the state. [Twitter/@Bellomatawalle1]

The 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,” he said.

“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 regards and esteem.”

Prior to this development, Matawalle vowed to arrest Yari should the bandit onslaught continue in the state.

While receiving firearms surrendered by repentant bandits at the Government House, Gusau, Matawalle alleged that there were attacks and killings of people anytime the former governor visited the state.