Tuesday, November 30, 2010

NASS and 25%

                             

As though one needs convincing on how the Nigerian experiment has failed, and is consequently in dire need of restructuring, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi the Central Bank Governor intimates:

"If you look at the budget, the bulk of government's revenue expenditure is on overheads, that is a big problem; 25 per cent of overheads of the Federal Government goes to the National Assembly. We need power, we need infrastructure, so we need to start looking at the structure of expenditure and make it more consistent with the development initiative of the country."

There you have it folks—the Nigerian National Assembly comprised of 109 persons in the Senate and 360 persons in the House of Representatives, collectively gulp 25% of Nigeria’s revenue. This is the country with the largest population in Africa with well over 150 million citizens (if you can reliably reckon with the outcome of the last census). I will not begin to catalogue a host of pressing needs and demands facing the country, for which a judicious use of it’s over $340 billion dollar GDP, would have gone a long way in addressing. Why? It is painful to recount and at the same time maddening to realize how badly things are being mismanaged if 469 individuals could appropriate a quarter of the national funds for themselves. This is just the Nigerian National Assembly mind you. By the time you factor in Executive malfeasance, and the cuts which would be appropriated by other different governmental bureaucracies, it leaves you wondering how much Abuja actually sets aside to do the bidding of the people.

Then of course, as Abuja disburses funds to the states, you can definitely expect the chain of political malfeasance to continue all the way down the chain. Is it any wonder then that Nigeria could be so richly blessed in terms of material and human resources, but at the same time, be gripped with paralyzing stagnation and privation? The article goes on to list a number of things which are wrong with the country and which must be addressed to better the lot of the masses. I do not want to sound like I am deeply cynical, but at the same time, I don’t want to sound like a broken record either—at the risk of being considered nonchalant, I’ll say that Nigerians are very much aware of how things are not working just like they are also very much aware of steps which could be taken to correct things. They have and continually make their frustrations known regarding the dismal performance of the political ruling class. But honestly, is anyone listening? How long shall the masses cry?

4 comments:

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  1. Helplessness due to the limited choices is the reality - and legislations after legislation on such matters by the same politicians makes the situation more secure for them...




    Basic Salary - 2,484 245.50

    Hardship Allowance @ 50% of Basic Salary 1 242 122.70 ( I love this kind of hardship 00000)
    Consistuency allowance @ 200% of BS 4 968 509.00
    Furniture Allowance @ 300% of bs 7 452 736.50
    Newspaper allowance @ 50% 1 242 122.70 ( Which kind newpaper be this sh na online or hardcopy).
    Wardrobe allowance @ 25% 621 061.37
    Recess Allowance @ 10% 248 424.55
    Accommodation @ 200% 4 968 509.00
    utilities @ 30% 828 081.83
    Domestic Staff @ 75% 1 863 184.12
    Entertainment @ 30% 828 081.83
    Personal Assistance @ 25% 621 061.37
    Vehicle Maintainance Allowance @ 75% 1 863 184.12
    Leave Allowance @10% 248 424.55



    one off payments As advised by Sagamite

    Severance grautity @ 300% 7 452 736.50 Once they get fired
    Motor Vehicle Allowance @ 400% of Bs 9 936 982.00 - Every Four Years



    Senators Salary per month - N 2 456 647.7

    Total = N 29 479 749 * 109 Senators Grand Total = N 3 264 329 264.10

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  2. Hey Gateway:

    Welcome to my blog.

    I was looking at the comment you made and I was wondering whether it is real or just something someone made up somewhere. It would be very interesting indeed, if one could get one's hands on actual documents (in published form of course) detailing the degree of fiscal impropriety at play here.

    Note that in the example you gave above, the members of the house of representatives were not even factored in. Then of course one has to realize that the amount up there represents spending for just ONE month

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  3. check these links

    http://www.thetidenewsonline.com/?p=14868

    http://rubminds.com/forums/politics/how-much-nigerian-senators-earn-and-want-pay-increase-see-breakdown/

    http://www.saharareporters.com/news-page/nigeria%E2%80%99s-federal-legislator-earns-more-obama-prof-itse-sagay
    http://calabarboy.com/2009/07/08/how-much-a-senator-earns-in-nigeria/

    http://www.peterokali.com/2010/08/02/this-really-stinks-nigeria-senators-salary-package-2/

    http://allafrica.com/stories/201007120500.html

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  4. Thanks a lot Gateway! This certainly puts things in perspective.

    And not surprisingly, I read that after the NASS read about the Lamido Sanusi's comment, they were so enraged that they quickly and unilaterally demanded an apology and a retraction -- one of those few occasions when they ever act in unison, right? I won't be surprised if in the near future the Governor of the Central Bank walks back these revelations, or somehow tries to blur the glaring and odious truth. Thanks once again, and please do visit GFP again.

    ReplyDelete