The decision by President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to take only 50% of the salary approved for them by the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) is a step in the right direction, given the dwindling economic fortunes of the country. The savings may not be much, but the symbolism is laudable. That Nigerian public office holders have collectively institutionalized unbearable high cost of governance is an understatement. An appetite for profligacy, greed, selfishness and corruption aided by a culture of impunity has brought the nation to its knees. And this trend must stop if the country is to survive. Weary Nigerians can only hope that the National Assembly which consumes as much as 25% of the national budget would follow the president’s example to chart a fresh course in public spending. These times call for rationality and sacrifice.
Obviously a reassessment of the perks of public office is more than just an urgent national imperative. As various states in the nation are near bankruptcy with workers going for months without salaries, one sure way to return them to fiscal buoyancy is to review or abolish outright such obscene allowances which have constituted the hotbeds of profligacy. Some of these obnoxious perks have granted lavish financial and material benefits to state officials like governors and their deputies. What is needed now is a clean break from this profligacy, where vampire elite pillaged the treasury with impunity. Nigeria will certainly be better if Buhari also gets governors and other public office holders to slash their own salaries and allowances and cause same to be effected for all other political appointees in the country.
Given his antecedents, frugality, what he represents, and particularly his resolve to breathe fresh air into governance, Buhari is leading by example. Indeed, he made a strong statement in his request to the Senate for just 15 special advisers – down from 23 – and accompanying special assistants that obtained in the immediate past regime. Mr. President should go further and cut the bogus provisions in the State House budget, while leveraging the Oronsaye Presidential Committee report on the Rationalization and Restructuring of Federal Government Parastatals, Commissions and Agencies. Happily, in its planned review the 2008 Remuneration Act, the RMAFC, which prescribes salaries and allowances for certain categories of top public officials, has said it would factor in prevailing economic realities “and the need to reduce the burgeoning cost of governance so as to free more funds for development”.
However, it will be interesting to see if the RMAFC will have the courage to publish the remuneration package of legislators. On this issue, the 8th National Assembly must come to equity with clean hands. Nigerian lawmakers are known to be running humongous bills in multiples of millions monthly and are said to be the highest paid in the world. With regards to their total pay, legislators have defied all sense of fairness, equity and accountability. No doubt, their salaries and allowances constitute a drainpipe on the country and in amidst dwindling government revenue, these financial leakages are unacceptable.
Indeed, the financial crises in the states are an opportunity for Nigerians to re-assess the call to service that propels some citizens into seeking public office. The legislators, governors, their deputies and others who benefit from these outrageous salaries and allowances see public office as a profit-making business. To break this cycle of profligacy, public office must be made less profitable as to attract only those who appreciate the fact that their reward goes beyond primitive accumulation and self-aggrandizement. In any case, it is an honor to be chosen among your fellow citizens to serve and, to serve voluntarily. Therefore, it negates all sense of morality and culture of service to pay public office holders such scandalous entitlements while majority of Nigerians working and sweating for the states are being owed several months salaries.
The callous insensitivity, waste, abuse and squandermania going on in the 36 States of the federation in the name of governance is scandalous and requires no peremptory exaggeration. While in office, governors and their deputies live a life of luxury that negates good governance. In fact, everything is free for them and their families. Out of office, they continue to feed fat on their states and maintain their extravagant lifestyles. In almost all the 36 states, there are laws that grant legitimacy to channels of lavishing public funds on ex-governors, their deputies and families. These swindles, perpetrated with the connivance of the State houses of assembly grant ex-governors and their deputies, pensions for life, free health care, security, transportation, cars and accommodation. In some states, the laws provide for estacode for the former governor and his wife for 30 days of annual vacation abroad. How sad!
It is shocking that the pension law in Lagos State which shares many similarities with those of other states, gives the former governor pension for life, two houses (one in Lagos and another in Abuja), six cars replaceable every three years (three for the governors, two backup cars and another one), furniture allowance of 300% of his salary as governor to be paid every two years, a security detail, free medicals for the governor and deputy as well as their families, 10% of salary for house maintenance, 30% of salary for car maintenance, 10% of salary for entertainment, 20% of salary for utility and several domestic staff. This is irresponsible, insensitive and Buhari must ensure all such absurd laws are revoked immediately. How selfish can these governors be?
At present, the country is in dire financial straits; a fact that underscores the need for a downward review in political office holders’ pay structure. Reason should therefore prevail. It is unconscionable that a country that cannot support N18, 000 minimum wage structure for public workers can afford to pay millions to its part-time lawmakers. The reality demands a savings culture while cost-saving devices must be officially institutionalized, just as accountability is made a priority. The RMAFC should publish the salaries and allowances of all categories of public officials, especially elected politicians.
Most importantly, government must tear down the infrastructure of corruption, that is, those easy means of enrichment that public office holders exploit for their selfish ends. Corruption has become a monster and a way of life that has all but destroyed the civil service. This country must do without a system that encourages stupendous allowances/pension to public office holders. Since the nation is at the mercy of public servants who see their positions as opportunities for rent-seeking and profiteering, no one should expect them to readily support a call for the scrapping of their obscene privileges. The President must therefore lead the country to torpedo this perfidious system of corruption and self-aggrandizement. Honestly, this is greed taken far beyond the acceptable limits of tolerance.
