Connect with us

News

Furore over ministers’ N8.6b four years budget

Published

on

Nigerians are angry, worried and concerned about the report in the media that the newly appointed 48 ministers by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would be smiling home with a whopping N8.6 billion in salaries and allowances in just four years.

Their worry stemmed from the information by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) that the salaries and allowances of the ministers in four years would take N8.63 billion out of the nation’s lean resources.

There is also a growing concern that the money might increase over time, a development that has drawn the anger and condemnation of many Nigerians. The story of what the ministers would earn in salaries and allowances became public knowledge after the RMAFC concluded its recent review of public servants’ remuneration.

This has continued to generate caustic reactions among Nigerians, especially considering the promise of the current All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government that it would reduce the cost of governance and improve the living standard of the people.

Many wonder how the promise of reducing the cost of governance would be fulfilled with 48 ministers earning such a humongous amount of money in just four years.

Those pushing this narrative argued that Tinubu ought to have pruned down the number of ministers to as low as 33, just like former President Goodluck Jonathan did during his time.

This, they reasoned, would have freed a large chunk of money for the President to deploy to other sectors of the economy, considering the fiscal state of the country’s purse.

One of the proponents of this narrative, a lawyer, Mr. Marcellus Onah, said: “Tinubu’s cabinet of 48 ministers appears to be the largest since Nigeria returned to democratic governance in 1999. His immediate predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari had 42 ministers. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo also had 42 ministers throughout his eight years in office. Late President Umar Musa Yar’Adua had 39 ministers. Goodluck Jonathan had the least, 33 ministers, nine of whom were carried over from Yar’Adua’s administration. Jonathan later increased the number to 37 just before the 2015 general elections.

“But, Tinubu is here appointing 48 ministers at a time when the country’s fiscal challenges are nothing to write home about. He should be thinking of reducing the cost of governance as he promised, and not creating avenues for more expenses.”

However, faced with the reality of high cost of governance, as evidenced by the ministers’ pay in four years, many Nigerians are calling on Tinubu’s government to resuscitate the report on civil service reform by Stephen Oronsaye, which has been gathering dust in the presidential villa since 2011 when it was submitted.

Recall that Jonathan had, in 2011, set the Presidential Commission on Restructuring and Rationalisation of the Federal Government Parastatals, Commissions and Agencies, under the leadership of Oronsaye.

The report was eventually rejected because of its ‘objective’ content. Oronsaye had recommended the merger of some Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) for the government to reduce the cost of governance, and save money to attend to some other national problems.

The report recommended that 38 federal agencies should be abolished, 14 agencies should be fused into the ministries where they were created from, statutory agencies should be reduced from 263 to 161, and 52 institutions to be merged, among other recommendations. Regrettably, after the report was submitted, it was abandoned by Jonathan and neither former President Buhari nor the current president has given any attention to the report.

Experts are of the view that if the government can look into the report and prune down the MDAs to 161, the country would be saving well over N12 trillion. They are, therefore, urging the government to revisit the report and see the possibility of implementing it, even if not wholly but partly.

This, they argued, has become imperative, considering the current fiscal challenges facing the country, where the country keeps borrowing, without any strategic repayment plan other than servicing the mounting debts with more than half of the country’s annual budget.

The appointment of ministers is a constitutional issue, some may want to argue.

But, there is also a counter-argument in some quarters to the effect that much as the appointment of ministers is a constitutional matter, an argument the President would also want to push, he should remember that the same constitution says one minister per state, plus the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, meaning a maximum of 37 ministers.

They also want the president to be reminded that former President Jonathan had only 33 ministers during his time and heaven did not fall.

The thinking in some quarters is that if Jonathan had 33 when the economy was booming, Tinubu has no reason not to reduce the number of his ministers now that the economy is in dire straits and the citizens are going through hell just to survive.

“Government borrowing is becoming a national embarrassment. The debt profile of the government is at its peak. Considering the current debt profile of the government and the biting hardship being experienced as a result of the fuel subsidy removal, one would expect the government that is mouthing renewed hope to emulate Jonathan or even stick to the constitutional requirement of one minister per state, at least for now. But, the government is carrying on as if all is well with the country’s economy.

“Obasanjo had 42 ministers at a time when the economy was viable. Yar’Adua had 39 ministers. Buhari had 42 ministers too. They were all presidents when there was subsidy on fuel and prices of essential commodities were within the reach of ordinary people, yet none of them exceeded 42 ministers. Today, there is no subsidy on petrol and its effect has touched on almost every aspect of the people’s life, making survival very difficult.

“Yet, the government that is preaching renewed hope is appointing 48 ministers, the highest number since the country returned to democracy in 1999. Where is the renewed hope when people are losing all hopes almost on a daily basis?

“Ordinarily, this government should have considered the economic situation and emulated Jonathan who did not have up to 36 ministers, or even done better than him by appointing less than 36 because the country does not have money; the government survives on borrowing. But, no, politicians must enjoy it at the expense of the masses,” a concerned Lagos resident, Mike Okaro said.

However, lending his voice to the growing concern over the development, the President of the Middle Belt Forum (MBF), Dr. Pogu Bitrus equally expressed displeasure and said appointing 48 ministers at this time was unwieldy.

“This is not the first time in Nigeria that it is happening that way. During the civilian regime, just to appease people, they appoint a lot of ministers beyond what the constitution says for whatever reason. It is not good for the economy.

“The constitution says a minister per state, which is supposed to be 36 plus one from the FCT, Abuja, but because the constitution does not restrict the numbers, you see presidents appointing more than that minimum number all the time.

“It is unwieldy; it is not good for the country but that is the situation of our democracy. And mind you that what we call democracy is just a political game in Nigeria, which is used just to satisfy the demands and needs of the political office holders and the constituencies which they represent.

“So I, particularly, don’t support this large and over-bloated cabinet structure. If you look at the United States of America in terms of size, it is larger than Nigeria but how many ministers do they have over there? There are not even up to 20 ministers in the US. So, the issue is that this cumbersome government which we have is not good for our society; it is not good for us and for governance.”

He also advocated that the National Assembly should look into the matter and see what can be done to reduce the number of ministers in Nigeria.

“It is necessary for the National Assembly to revisit this issue in the constitution so that we can have a better government that will not be taxing the taxpayers too much.

“Yes, Tinubu is not the first person to have done it, but what we are saying is that there is the need to legislate on such things, so that we can have a better government system which will not be consuming too much of our lean resources,” he said.

Pogu equally identified a serious drain on the economy as one of the implications of the large cabinet because each minister would have a lot of aides apart from the salaries they are going to draw from the system.

“Maybe for political reasons, the President is doing what he is doing rather than considering the economy and the capacity of the country to sustain such a structure.

“What we are saying is that the National Assembly needs to wake up and do the needful so that the presidential system of government will not continue to be as unwieldy as it is. This will also guarantee greater prudence.

“You see, I do not believe in the parliamentary system of government but it is less cumbersome and highly economical because the ministers, including the person who is going to lead the country will be somebody who is elected among them as a legislator.

“And instead of having double portfolios, the governance will be a bit less in terms of consumption of the resources and everything will also be debated in the House, so the executive and the legislature are the same.

“I don’t know whether we should develop a Nigerian specific type of governance, so that it will not be so unwieldy the way we have it now. It is unfortunate that in our economic situation, we are still battling with unnecessary appointments of ministers.

“But, we need to tell the National Assembly that it has powers to modify and add to the constitution, to do the needful so that such things can be curbed and stopped forthwith, and to look for a system of governance that will not be so costly, including what is happening in the National Assembly,” he said..

Also, the Executive Director, Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Integrity Watch (CefTIW), Umar Yakubu said it was wasteful for President Tinubu to have appointed 48 ministers, especially at a time when the government said it was trying to cut the cost of governance and generate revenue.

“The constitutional requirement for appointment says one minister from each state and the FCT, which is supposed to be 37. But now, the president has appointed 11 more ministers above the constitutional requirement, which will now add pressure to the cost of governance and recurrent expenditures.

“It is wasteful to have 48 ministers when other countries are merging. For instance, the US only has 15 ministries.

“Unfortunately, we are down here expanding and adding more burden to our fiscal crisis. Official vehicles would be bought for these ministers, and you can imagine the cost of fueling and maintaining the vehicles,” he said.

Again, an APC chieftain and former member of the Katsina State House of Assembly, Hon Yusuf Shehu described the development as quite unfortunate considering the hardship Nigerians are going through.

He lamented that only about 10 percent of the people who live in the northern states like Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, and Zamfara can afford three square meals per day, while the rest find it extremely difficult to even afford a meal.

“Some can’t even afford one meal per day. Families spend two, three days without food. So, for only 48 ministers to consume N8.6 billion is very unfortunate,” he said.

He decried the brand of politics being played in Nigeria, which according to him was responsible for the lack of development in the country.

He said: “Politics in Nigeria is so expensive that leaders don’t consider the situation of the common man. Some people will faint when they hear that this kind of huge amount would be spent on 48 ministers in four years only.

“Our hospitals are dilapidated, our schools have collapsed and our roads are bad, but the government is very comfortable spending such a huge amount of money on only 48 ministers in just four years.

“And this excludes other perquisites not known to the public. This is just the salaries and allowances only. How can Nigeria progress with this kind of spending on the leaders?”

He further stressed that with the current hardship in the country as a result of fuel subsidy removal, currency swap and naira change, the government should have reconsidered spending such a huge amount of money on the ministers.

“If the ministers are really working for the people, they should sit down and reduce their salaries and allowances because the money is too humongous. They should know that the people are suffering,” he said.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

News

I nearly withdrew from 2023 presidential race -Tinubu

Published

on

President Bola Tinubu has revealed that he nearly abandoned his 2023 presidential ambition following a moment of doubt during the election campaign.

“I almost dropped the idea of running for President,” Tinubu revealed on Saturday night at a special Iftar held in his honour at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja, where he also thanked Nigerians for their overwhelming goodwill and prayers on his 73rd birthday.

Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, disclosed the excerpts of the President’s dpeech in a statement signed in the early hours of Sunday titled ‘President Tinubu appreciates Nigerians for birthday well wishes, reveals he nearly quit 2023 presidential race.’

Reflecting on the pressures he faced, the President recounted how a close relative visited him in the middle of the night and questioned his resolve.

“Those close to me know that the odds were against me. During the campaigns. One came to my living room around 3:30 a.m. and said he needed just N50,000 to buy foodstuff for our uncle.

“He told me, ‘The currency is gone because of you. People are jumping over bank counters because there is no cash. Our uncle, a wealthy man, doesn’t even have N10,000 in cash.

What are you running for?’

“I told him, ‘I am running for President, not for you and our uncle.’ I gave him the N50,000. As he walked out, he turned to me and said, ‘I don’t think you will make it.’ I replied, ‘I will make it.’”

Tinubu added, “I was amazed. At that moment, I almost dropped the idea of running for President. But thanks to Aminu Masari and all of you who encouraged me.

“When I came to Abuja, Masari told me, ‘I am the Chairman of the North West Group; don’t look back.

”In his address, the President recognised the difficulties encountered along the path to the presidency and reaffirmed his commitment to advancing Nigeria’s progress.

Tinubu also noted that he assumed office during a period of economic challenges and had to make swift decisions, including scrapping the fuel subsidy on his inauguration day.

“On the day of my inauguration, I had to decide on something not originally in my speech, and that was the fuel subsidy removal.

“The hallmark of a great leader is the ability to make the right decision at the right time. That was the day I declared that the subsidy was gone.

“The following day, I was hounded and thoroughly abused in the media. But I stood firm, knowing it was the right thing to do for our nation’s future,” said Tinubu.

Vice President Kashim Shettima lauded the President’s leadership style, saying his decisions have tackled issues that haunted previous administrations.

He said, “Thanks to his boldness, future presidents of Nigeria will not have to wrestle with the same ghosts that haunted past administrations, including fraud-ridden fuel subsidies, an unstable forex market, and the suppression of local government autonomy.

“These were the thorny issues that many before him sidestepped. But Asiwaju did not sidestep history; he came to rewrite it.

“And in rewriting it, Asiwaju has taken the bullets that many before him simply lacked the courage to face. But that is the thing about true leadership: it is not for those who seek comfort.

It is for those who understand that the path to national greatness is lined with difficult choices.

”Senate President Godswill Akpabio applauded the President’s “relentless passion for national development” and described him as the “most audacious president” in Nigeria’s history.

“If I were a governor under your administration, I would have been a ‘supernatural governor’ and not an uncommon governor,” he remarked, adding that under Tinubu’s watch, governors receive more allocation.

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Benjamin Kalu also commended the President for supporting him politically in 2019, even though they were from different regions.

“Today, he is at the forefront because Nigeria needs him. In 2019, despite not being from his region, he supported me in my most difficult political moment.

Nigeria needs leaders who rise above tribal considerations, and he has demonstrated that,” said Kalu.

Meanwhile, Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State praised Tinubu’s “decisive leadership” amid national uncertainties, stating that only a leader with “deep conviction and love for the country” could take the necessary but often difficult steps.

The Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijjani, who spoke on behalf of cabinet members, recounted his appointment under the President despite prior activism.

He added that a senior World Bank official had recently described Tinubu as “the best reformist leader in Africa today.

”One of the President’s childhood friends, Professor Shaffideen Amuwo, recalled their early years, attributing Tinubu’s rise to divine providence.

Amuwo said, “Our relationship did not just start in Chicago; we played soccer together as children. While I chose the library, my brother chose politics because he loved to speak.

“Today, Allah has shown His greatness by guiding him to lead Nigeria.

“The city of Chicago, founded by a Black man, has educated the man who now leads the most populous Black nation on earth. I pray that Allah continues to hold his hand and guide him as he works to save our country.

”For his 73rd birthday, Tinubu thanked guests and supporters who have stood by him through periods of doubt and adversity, reaffirming his resolve to steer Nigeria toward stability and growth.

Saturday night’s event was attended by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu; Vice President Kashim Shettima and his wife, Nana; members of the Federal Executive Council; principal officers of the National Assembly; current and former governors; diplomats; business leaders; religious figures; and several of the President’s childhood friends.

The Imam of the National Mosque, Abuja, Dr. Abdulkadir Sholagberu, led prayers seeking divine guidance for the President and the nation.

Continue Reading

Crime

Lynched Edo travellers: Governors move against reprisals as 16 slain hunters buried

Published

on

Tears flowed on Saturday in Uromi, Edo State, as the remains of the hunters who were lynched by a mob were interred.

Members of the Hausa community converged on the community cemetery to pay their last respects to the victims, who were burnt to death on Friday after being accused of being kidnappers.

It was earlier reported that the men were travelling in a Dangote Cement truck when they were intercepted around 1.30pm by local security guards.

After the guards searched the truck and found dane guns, they raised the alarm, which triggered the mob attack.

19 hunters buried’

A video of the funeral rites posted on X by a security analyst, Zagazola Makama, showed the moment the victims were buried.

The 1 minute 29 seconds clip captured members of the Hausa community in a solemn mood as the wrapped corpses were placed beside large graves.

The man filming the burial, who spoke in Hausa, said, “Assalamualaikum, this time we will pray for the bodies of our brothers who were killed for us—those who were massacred. May God bless them with mercy, forgive them, and accept their martyrdom for the sake of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

“Here is the Muslim community; they have gathered now and will be offering funeral prayers for our brothers who were killed. Now, we will offer the prayer for them.

”An imam subsequently began praying on the bodies, marking the commencement of the rites.

The man behind the filming said the death toll had increased to 19.

“Remember yesterday (Friday): the bodies of three people were brought to us, and we were able to pray for them. But now, 16 more corpses have also been brought, and we will pray for them. May God Almighty forgive them.

“Look at their graves here. Because there are so many of them, it is not possible to dig individual graves for each one. Instead, they will be buried together in one place,” he stated.

The security analyst, Makama, said a mother clutched to the grave’s edge as she lamented the killing of her son.

“My son was not a kidnapper! He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time!” she sobbed.

He also said a father held to the photograph of his slain son.

The Ojuromi of Uromi, Anselm Aidenojie II, who visited the Hausa community alongside Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, during the burial, condemned the killings, noting that security agencies were taking measures to avert reprisals.

Aidenojie stressed that those responsible for the killings would be brought to justice.

“They (the victims) have been buried, and hopefully, this will never happen again in our community or anywhere else,” he added.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Moses Yamu, in a statement, had said 14 suspects were arrested in connection with the incident.

Northern governors move to stop reprisals

Meanwhile, it was gathered that northern governors had started making moves to strengthen peace and forstall reprisals in the region.

The Director-General (Press Affairs) to the NGF Chairman and Governor of Gombe State, Ismaila Misili, said, “Let me unequivocally state that there is no tension in the North over the unfortunate incident in Edo State.

“Recall that northern governors, through their Chairman and Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, had already issued a statement calling for calm and restraint.

“Individual governors in the North have also proactively engaged with relevant stakeholders to ensure peace, especially ahead of the Eid el-Fitr celebrations.

“Religious leaders also continue to promote peaceful coexistence and discourage any actions that might disrupt the harmony we have worked diligently to establish.

”Also, the Nasarawa State Government, while condemning the killings, called on security agencies to prosecute the perpetrators.

The Senior Special Assistant to Governor Abdullahi Sule on Public Affairs, Peter Ahemba, said security agencies had been placed on red alert to safeguard all 13 LGAs in the state.

He urged residents to remain calm and law-abiding, warning that anyone found disturbing the peace would be arrested.

“Governor Abdullahi Sule has said that no matter what, we must maintain peace in Nasarawa State. We have no room for such dastardly acts as seen in Edo.

“Security agencies have been placed on red alert to ensure that nothing untoward happens anywhere in the state regarding any reprisal attacks,” he said.

But the Borno State Government said it was still assessing the situation.

Speaking with newsmen, the Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Usman Tar, said the state had yet to receive any directive from the Northern Governors’ Forum.

Meanwhile, the Borno State Police Command said it had stepped up security patrols for the Sallah celebration.

The command’s spokesperson, ASP Nahum Daso, said strategic police deployments had been made to maintain order.

“What we currently have on the ground is Sallah preparation. We have deployed personnel in strategic positions. We are also conducting a show of force, which involves patrolling to ensure visibility.

This will help prevent any incidents that could lead to unrest, particularly those with religious undertones,” Daso said.

Politician places bounty on suspects

On social media, there was palpable anger among the Arewa on Saturday as some individuals also took to X, sharing images of some of the suspected attackers and placing N1m bounty on them.

A Social Democratic Party member based in Abuja, Ibrahim Sanusi, was among those spearheading the movement.

While posting on his verified X handle, he wrote, “N1million reward for anyone who can identify these criminals and provide information leading to their arrest. If you have any information, please come forward. #JusticeForUromi16.”

As of the time of filing this report, over 1,500 tweeps had retweeted the post, while it had gathered 3,600 likes and 124 quotes.

However, the Coalition of Northern Groups and the Arewa Youths Consultative Forum condemned the resort to self-help, warning that it could escalate tension across the country.

The CNG National Coordinator, Jamilu Charanchi, acknowledged that while the killing of innocent hunters was reprehensible, law enforcement agencies must be allowed to handle the matter.

“All we demand is for the police to expedite investigations so that the real perpetrators can be identified and brought to justice. This will help reduce tensions in the North,” he stated.

Charanchi further argued that no individual or group had the right to place a bounty on anyone, stressing that the law must take its course.

Similarly, the AYCF President, Yerima Shettima, cautioned against any form of retaliation, stressing that justice must be pursued within the framework of the law.

Northerners petition Tinubu, IGP, othersMeanwhile, Sanusi and over 100 others have launched a petition on Change.org, addressed to President Bola Tinubu and the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and Edo State Governor, Okpebholo.

As of 7pm on Saturday, no fewer than 273 people had signed the petition, demanding justice for the victims.

Continue Reading

News

Dangote Feeds 40,000 Families in Borno

Published

on

No fewer than 40,000 families may benefit from the Aliko Dangote Food Intervention Programme.

Borno State Governor Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum said the donation of 40,000 bags of 10kg rice to the people of Borno State by the Aliko Dangote Foundation(ADF) will help cushion economic hardship in these families.

The Governor made the statement at the flag-off of the Food Intervention Programme on Wednesday in Maiduguri, Borno State capital.

The Aliko Dangote Foundation penultimate week commenced the distribution of one million bags rice worth N16billion across the 774 local government areas in Nigeria.

The Governor was represented by the Director General of Borno State Emergency Management Agency(SEMA) Mr. Ali Abdullahi Isa.

He said: “Today marks a significant milestone in our collective efforts to alleviate the suffering of our people, particularly during the holy month of Ramadan.”

The Governor said the generous donation is a testament to the Foundation’s commitment to supporting vulnerable communities and promoting social welfare.

“We are deeply thankful to Alhaji Aliko Dangote and the entire foundation for their kindness and philanthropy.

”He urged the people of Borno State to continue to pray for peace, stability, and prosperity of the state and country.

In his early remarks, representative of the Aliko Dangote Foundation, Mr. Usman Muhammad, said the gesture is aimed at supporting government effort, adding that the Foundation focuses on improving the living conditions of Nigerians.

Mr. Muhammad said the donation is targeted at the poor and the vulnerable persons in the State.

A beneficiary, Ms Aisha Modu, 50, said as a displaced person, the donation of rice by the ADF will go a long way in alleviating her economic hardship.

In the same vein, another beneficiary, Umaru Aliyu, 60, said he will use the rice to feed his six children, while praying God to continue to bless the chairman of the Aliko Dangote Foundation.

Continue Reading

Trending