Newly appointed ministers in
President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet are grumbling over poor salaries and
allowance packages accruable to them in office.
These
conditions of service for ministers was reportedly contained in a letter given
to them during the week by the secretary to the government of the federation,
Babachir David Lawal.
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The
letter reads in part: “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
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.”
According
to the letter, while a minister will earn N2,026,400 annual basic salary
($8,514.285), a minister of state is to get N1.8 million ($7,563.025) per
annum.
The
other conditions include: Estacode Allowance($900 per diem);
Duty Tour Allowance(N35,000); Utilities Allowance(Telephone/ Electricity/
Water)–30% of Annual Basic Salary (N607,920); Domestic Staff Allowance(75%
-((N1,519,800) 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-N303,960).
One
condition which stood out as very restrictive was the fact that ministers were
mandated to obtain permission from the president before travelling out of
Abuja.
It
added that: If the
trip is official, Ministers are entitled to a Duty Tour Allowance of N35,000
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.
“200
% of Annual Basic Salary (N4,052,800) will be paid to you to enable you to
acquire accommodation of your choice in line with monetization policy.
“Furniture
Allowance. 300 %(N6,079,200) of Annual Basic Salary will be paid once in every
four years. The allowance will be paid annually at the rate of 75% (N1,519,800)
of Annual Basic salary.
“Motor
Vehicle Fuelling Maintenance Allowance. 75% of Annual Basic Salary (N1,519,800)
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(N202,640) as leave grant); Personal Assistant
Allowance (25% of Annual Basic salary to enable you to employ a Personal
Assistant of your choice).”
The
only leverage the ministers will enjoy is the privilege of flying in business
class on trips.
Since
receiving the letter specifying these conditions of service, some of the
ministers are said to have expressed fears that the salary and allowance
package might not be able to cover their bills.
Speaking
on the misgivings of the ministers about their salaries, a source who spoke to
The Nation 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 $10,000 to
$20,000 per month, how will they settle their bills? Some ministers have headed
corporate. You can imagine a minister managing about $3billion portfolio now
getting $8,521 per Annum.
“Some
ministers have children in Ivy League universities where they are paying as
much as $40,000 to $60,000 per annum. How will they be able to cope to meet up
with their responsibilities?
“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.”
Since assuming office, President Muhammadu Buhari has vowed to
combat corruption in Nigeria no matter whose ox is gored. Several groups
in the country have urged
the president to hasten his government’s anti-corruption crusade and bring to
book all those who mismanaged pension funds.
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