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| President Muhammadu Buhari |
•Cabinet members grumble, say ‘pittance’ can’t pick bills
Barely three weeks in
office, President Muhammadu Buhari has shocked Ministers with poor salaries and
austere allowances.
He has also imposed dos and don’ts on the ministers including travel
restrictions. Most Ministers were said to be embarrassed by the perks of office
accruable to them in office.
The
only leverage the Ministers will enjoy is the privilege of flying in a Business
Class on trips.
These
conditions of service for Ministers were contained in a letter given to
them during the week by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation,
Engr. Babachir David Lawal.
The
letter said: “I am pleased to inform you that the President of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, has appointed you
as a Minister in the Government of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria
The Nation report continues:
“The
appointment takes effect from 11th November, 2015 under the following Terms and
Conditions of Service as contained in “Certain Political, Public and Judicial
Office Holders(Salaries and Allowances, etc) (Amendment ) Act 2008.”
“I
am to add that your tenure terminates at the end of this Administration unless
otherwise decided by Mr. President. Please accept my heartiest congratulations
and best wishes on your appointment.”
The
SGF’s letter gave the details of the perks which the ministers will enjoy in
office as long as they last in the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
While
the substantive minister will earn ₦2,026, 400 Annual Basic
Salary (US$8,514.285), Minister of State is to get ₦1.8million
(US$7,563.025) per annum.
Other
highlights of the conditions include: Estacode Allowance (US$900 per diem); Duty
Tour Allowance (₦35,000); Utilities Allowance(Telephone/ Electricity/
Water)–30% of Annual Basic Salary (₦607,920); Domestic Staff Allowance (75% -(₦1,519,800)
of Annual Basic Salary; Medical Facilities (in accordance with NHIS
Policy); Special Assistant (To be provided in kind); Security (To be
provided in kind); Air Travel (By Business Class); Newspaper Allowance (15%
of Annual Basic Salary-₦303,960).
The
letter said: “As a Political Office Holder, you must obtain permission from Mr.
President before you travel out of Abuja. If the trip is official, Ministers
are entitled to a Duty Tour Allowance of ₦35,000 per diem. However,
all private journeys will attract no Allowance.
“Severance
Allowance of 300 %of Annual Basic Salary payable after full tenure of office
with government. The allowance will be pro-rated after a minimum of two years
tenure.
It
added: “200 % of Annual Basic Salary (₦4, 052,800) will be paid
to you to enable you to acquire accommodation of your choice in line with
monetization policy.
“Furniture Allowance.
300 % (₦6,079,200) of Annual Basic Salary will be paid once in every
four years. The allowance will be paid annually at the rate of 75% (₦1,519,800)
of Annual Basic salary.
“Motor
Vehicle Fuelling Maintenance Allowance. 75% of Annual Basic Salary (₦1,519,800)
for the maintenance of your vehicle(s) as Government no longer provides
chauffeur driven vehicles to Political Office Holders/Public Officers for
house to office running.
“Annual
Leave (30 calendar days for each leave year or calculated on pro-rata basis,
with 10% of Annual Basic Salary (₦202,640) as leave grant);
Personal Assistant Allowance (25% of Annual Basic salary to enable you to
employ a Personal Assistant of your choice).”
Investigation
however revealed that some of the ministers were uncomfortable with the salary
and allowance package because it might not be able to pick their bills.
The
package has caused rumbles in the cabinet because while Nigerian ministers earn
US$8, 514.28 Per Annum (₦2,026,400), their counterparts in Ghana are on US$50,000
(₦11,900,000)
and those in South Africa (the highest paying in the continent) were said to be
taking home about US$302,521 per annum.
A
reliable source said: “Most ministers have been sad since they received their
letters of appointment because the salary and allowance package was a far cry
from where they were coming from. We hope that ministers will eventually not
steal if they have to serve this nation on hungry stomach.
“We
have ministers in this government who left high-net worth job of US$10,000 to US$20,000
per month, how will they settle their bills? Some ministers have headed
corporate. You can imagine a minister managing about US$3billion portfolio now
getting US$8,521 per Annum.
“Some
ministers have children in Ivy League universities where they are paying as
much as US$40,000 to US$60,000 per annum. How will they be able to cope to meet
up with their responsibilities?”
As
at press time, it was unclear if the ministers had made representation to the
president or not.
“Curiously,
we have some Executive Secretaries, Directors-General and Group Managing
Directors of parastatals like NNPC, PPMC, NCC, NDIC, PEF, PPPRA, DPR, NERC,
NIGCOMSAT, and others who will be earning more than their ministers. I think
the system is distorted somehow.”
Another
source added: “To earn commensurate salaries and allowances, the president can
explore foreign donors’ basket for payment of ministers. Or else, it will be
difficult to get the best from this team.
“Alternatively, there might
be scientific corruption in Buhari’s cabinet. This is the type of corruption we
call ‘chop and clean mouth.’”
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