Hakeem Babalola

The National Economic Council (NEC), the umbrella body for the governors of the thirty-six states and the nation's economic managers recently endorsed the salary cut proposed by Musa Yar'Adua for all political appointees in the country. According to reports, Yar'Adua believes that the current remuneration for political office holders in the country is "untenable and unjustifiable in the present circumstances".

Yar'Adua is right on the spot with the two adjectives: untenable and unjustifiable. But "Mr. President" spoils the sentence with the use of "in the present circumstances" which should be replaced with "at all times". Although Nigerian political officers do not deserve the current salaries they earn, yet salary cut is meaningless and it is probably being initiated to score a cheap political point rather than in the interest of the country. Before highlighting the reasons why they do not merit their current earnings, it is pertinent to inform the public the yearly take-home pay for political office holders as approved by the National Assembly in April 2008.

President: N3,514,705.00

Vice-President: N3,031,572.50

Minister/Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF)/Head of Service (HOS)/Chairmen of Commissions: N2,026,400.00

Minister of State/Member of Commissions: N1,957,580.00

Special Advisers: N1,942,875.00.

Governors: N2.2milliion

Deputy Governors: N2.1million

Secretary to the State Government, Commissioners, Chairmen, N1.3million

Local Government Chairmen: N908,312

Vice Chairmen: N853,056

Supervisors: N809,300

Secretary: N809,300

Special Advisers: N760,076. 

We can see from the above that the salaries being paid these political officers are not too much. The local government chairmen for example earn less than N80, 000 per month. It is clear that they don't actually live on their salary. As low as their wages, these political officers do not even deserve kobo judging from their performances in their various establishments. Most of these officers are incompetent; they lack enthusiasm to serve; they are ostentatious and greedy; they inflate contract without even doing the project. Perhaps we should leave this for another day. 

One thing is clear though: the salary cut is not going to be effective without earnest and sincere approach. Cutting down on salary which is not even enough can never be an effective way of solving the current global credit crunch in Nigeria. If however the government is bent on doing it, "Mr. President must immediately reprioritise government projects and eliminate waste, ban all unnecessary foreign tours, medical visits and workshops, particularly by indolent legislators".

Newspaper reports had it in November 2007 that "Aso Rock budgets N2.3million daily for refreshment...N1.5m for eye glasses". This is one example of profligate spending by the federal government and its components. I really do not think that the government should have waited until recession before applying common sense in the way money is being expended. Why not divert such expenses into education or health programme? In fact there are many things to cut apart from the benefits of these inept political officers. Will heaven fall for instance if the usual red carpet is replaced with red mat?

I am of the opinion that the total spending should reflect the way we are. A nation that cannot comfortably pay its teachers, doctors, and law enforcement officers should not pretend to be rich in the way it spends. Yet I think the federal government should desist from hiding under the global recession to deceive the public by cutting the salary of political office holders. It won't work unless we are talking of another country entirely. It just doesn't augur well to decide to cut salaries without transparency. This is quite unfortunate because most important policies have been tackled in this rush-rush manner.

As far as I am concerned, the salary cut which has been widely reported to affect 16, 540 public office holders, is an indirect way of promoting further corruption in the sense that a political officer who is corrupt even when his salary was "fat" will only device another technique to loot now that his salary has been cut. This salary cut isn't a bold move at all. A bold move would have been a permanent agenda that will make these political office holders accountable to the people. A bold move would have been to implement a policy that will eradicate corruption - our unofficial ageless recession - once and for all. I wonder if this approach is being undertaken in the interest of the country or simply to score a cheap political point - as usual.

Or is the federal government going to force the market women to reduce the prices of essential commodities? I simply don't get it. Market economy is not managed in this hush-hush style. Perhaps this is the main reason why many Nigerian experts believe the pay cut is conducted with or marked by hidden aims or methods. Another effective way would have been to cut the numbers of political office holders. There are too many personal assistants without portfolio. Yar’Adua should remove ghost workers who are spooking Nigerians here and there.

Instead of losing sleep over cutting salaries, the Nigerian government needs to implement a policy that will permanently bring accountability in governance. There is the urgent need for responsibility otherwise every step taken would be in vain. Our political office holders are notorious for breaking existing rules with impunity. This salary cut won't be different. They have probably implemented a way to counter this directive. To these people money means everything and they will do anything to have their salary intact no matter what. The main point is to put the right people in the right place. The government should celebrate hard-work and dedication to service instead of indolence as is the current practice.

Finally, I quite agree with Chief Gani Fawehinmi, who in spite of the fact that he is recuperating in far away Britain, has slammed Yar'Adua over the proposed plan to cut salaries. Yes, it is a misplaced priority. Let the government govern well by fighting greed and corruption which resides right in its backyard. No amount of salary cut will develop Nigeria until we are serious as a people, especially until there are groups of people who really believe in the Nigerian project and in deed know the art of governance very well. I don't think Nigeria will survive with these present leaders who just love jaunting around the globe with our money. Equally important is the sycophantic citizens who would rather glorify these corrupt leaders instead of vigorously demanding accountability from them. Yar'Adua and his cabinets need to be told the truth, and nothing but the truth.

Copyright 2009 mysmallvoice@yahoo.com

Robot  # 1 | 18.02.2009 08:23

Hakeem Babalola The National Economic Council (NEC), the umbrella body for the governors of the thirty-six states and the nation's economic managersrecently endorsed the salary cut proposed by Musa Yar'Adua for all political appointees in the country. According to reports, Yar'Adua believes that the current remuneration for political office holders in the country is "untenable and unjustifiable in the present circumstances". Yar'Adua is righton the spot with the two adjectives: untenable and unjustifiable. But "Mr. President" spoils the sentence with the use of "in the present circumstances" which should be replaced with "at all times". Although Nigerian political officers do not deserve the current salaries they earn, yet salary cut is meaningless and it is probably being initiated to score a cheap political point rather than in the interest of thecountry.Before highlighting the reaso...Read the full article.

Danmeka  # 2 | 18.02.2009 10:12

Brother Hakeem thanks for the infromation, about the salaries of the Senate and House of Reps? Our democracy has become a joke that we are now a laughing stock in some part of the world.Rather than call ours a democracy,we can call it squandercracy.

agbajo owo  # 3 | 18.02.2009 13:06

Thanks for the information. There is a Yoruba saying that if the person been deceived does not know the deceiver certainly knows. Good enough, in this case both parties are quite well aware of the deception. The most effective way to cut the cost of governance is to drastically reduce the number of personnel. The numbers of personal assistant to special assistant and all such rubbish. What are we doing with so many ministers and special assistants? In line with my believe, all this rhetoric will not bring change. Let us follow it up with concrete action. Most effective is lobbying. All those that have friends in the corridor of power and believe in project Nigeria should get to work. Let the pastors and the imams preach it. Let us put pressure on them in public and in private. God help us!!!

TiOluwanile  # 4 | 18.02.2009 18:20

This, I dare say, is the crux of the matter... "As far as I am concerned, the salary cut which has been widely reported to affect 16, 540 public office holders, is an indirect way of promoting further corruption in the sense that a political officer who is corrupt even when his salary was "fat" will only device another technique to loot now that his salary has been cut. This salary cut isn't a bold move at all. A bold move would have been a permanent agenda that will make these political office holders accountable to the people. A bold move would have been to implement a policy that will eradicate corruption - our unofficial ageless recession - once and for all. I wonder if this approach is being undertaken in the interest of the country or simply to score a cheap political point - as usual". One can't but wonder what the President's numerous Special Advisers and Assistants are doing if a salary cut is the best he could come up with. It's pretty obvious our 'dedicated' public officers will make up the difference somehow. After all, who exactly is looking? And even if anyone is looking, who will catch them? A wise and more realistic move is to tackle our issues on corruption, and look for ways to put all the money that the FIRS rakes in every year to good use for our national good. And, may I add, not with committees like Vision 2010 or 2020 that will sit forever without tangible results.

iamgod  # 5 | 19.02.2009 03:02

Yaradua is obviously clueless and without focus. This pay cut is actually trying to score nonexistent political points; same with the #5 cut in petrol pricing. We all know that it is not salaries that pay for the huge SUV's, foreign trips, mansions and concubines our self indulgent political class have equated to governance. Our president's blindness and lack of commonsense is really amazing. Mr presido, if you can think outside your 'drug' induced haze; plug the waste and fire half of your cabinet. Take BOLD steps to show you are serious. All these pussyfooting and 'walking on thin ice' approach to major national issues just show you are just trying to hang on and mark time until you or your tenure expires.(whichever comes first) Anyway, since the international price of crude is likely to fall further during the coming summer months, its obvious the roof is about to come crashing down on everyone. Maybe Yaradua will finally wake up when there is no more money to pay state and federal workers, the police and the armed forces. Maybe this is what Nigeria really needs.