President Goodluck Jonathan has said that the newly sworn-in Minister of Finance, Prof. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and other professionals in his cabinet pulled from the Diaspora will not be paid in foreign currencies.

The President disclosed this in his remarks on Wednesday shortly after the swearing-in of Okonjo-Iweala as Finance Minister in the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

“Let me also thank other ministers brought in from the Diaspora, we know it is quite challenging to move from developed countries to Nigeria.

“The question sometimes asked, and I know for Ngozi it is embarrassing, is that when she accepted to serve, it was in the media that she gave conditions to be paid in dollars.

“Let me formally announce to Nigerians that she accepted to serve just like any other minister and indeed others who came from the Diaspora have not asked us for dollar salary.

“They are going to receive salary and allowances like others in the cabinet. They are coming to serve the country and are not coming because of their personal aggrandisement,’’ he said.

abiolak:

If i am paid 1,000 dollar and am to recieve 150,000 naira, for God sake what is the diff there?
Uncle Geg just feel like makoing headlines on national dailies this day, we need change and not all this cricket talks.

dem_people:

Nigeria's prime minister will not disappoint in her capacity.

My worry is that GEJ might not have the political balls to implement some of her policies.

Either way, I can't think of anyone who's more patriotic than her, in this age when most Nigerians have given up on the country - at least I have, long ago!

Ileke-IdI:

Congratulations, do you want a medium size coke to go with that?

abiolak:

If i am paid 1,000 dollar and am to recieve 150,000 naira, for God sake what is the diff there?
Uncle Geg just feel like makoing headlines on national dailies this day, we need change and not all this cricket talks.

bennygee:

is it the currency in which she's paid or the amount she's paid that matters?
GEJ shud stop clowning and focus on more important issues like stable power supply,security of nigerians and job creation.
we still dey perambulate and we still dey the same same place year in year out

byrron:

weder monkey wear pant or pant wear monkey both na d samething jor. Oga gej most times creates problems 4himself when digresses from core issues to frivolities there4 subjecting himself to ridicule most times. How much is her total pay pack? When we knw dat part then we can convert it to dollars, dats d only time we will knw if its justifiable. Imo, dat part of d presidents speach was very unneccessary. Best wishes madam finance ary. Best wishes madam finance

abiolak:

If i am paid 1,000 dollar and am to recieve 150,000 naira, for God sake what is the diff there?
Uncle Geg just feel like makoing headlines on national dailies this day, we need change and not all this cricket talks.