₦airaland Forum

Democracy Day Squander-mania: How Nigeria Lost N105.8 Billion ($528 Million) To 6,806 Public Office Holders In 7 Days

Scandalous Loss Of N105.8 Billion ($528 Million) To 6,806 Public Officers: Investigative findings have shown that the Federation of Nigeria lost in seven days (May 29 –June 5, 2015) a total sum of N105.8 billion or $528 million in the hands of its 6,806 out-gone and new public office holders at the Federal and State levels. The scandalous sum was spent on their severance and inaugural allowances. The severance allowances are 300% of their annual basic salaries paid to all immediate past publicly elected and appointed officials. There are also a legion of monetized and cash entitlements provided for them through Federal and nocturnal State laws and other administrative pronouncements. On the other hands, the inaugural allowances are car, furniture and housing allowances paid to new public office holders.

By our investigation, there are 76 out-gone Senators, 290 out-gone House of Reps members, one ex President, one ex Vice President, 42 former Ministers and 133 Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants and Special Assistants all at the Federal level. At the State level, there are 20 ex Governors, 20 ex Deputy Governors, about 600 ex State lawmakers and 1,300 ex State executive members including Commissioners and Special Advisers. For new public office holders at the Federal level, there are one new President, one new Vice President, about 36 incoming Ministers and 469 Federal lawmakers.

At the State level, there are 20 new Governors and 20 new Deputy Governors, 2,592 State executive officials including Commissioners and SAs; and 1,152 State lawmakers. The list excludes 16 incumbent Governors, 16 incumbent Deputy Governors and new SAs at the Federal level. The total number of referenced former and new public office holders that squandered the referenced N105.8 billion in seven days of 29th May to 5th June 2015 is 6,806.

In the area of severance allowances, the out-gone President and his Vice have already pocketed 300% of their annual basic salaries, which translate to N10.5 million and N9.09 million respectively. The President’s annual basic salary is N3, 514 million and his Vice N3, 03 million. The referenced severance allowances did not include a legion of other entitlements estimated at over N2 billion. The 76 ex Senators’ severance allowances are N462 million or N6, 07 million each. Those of the 290 ex House of Reps members are N1.7 billion or N5.9 million each. For 42 ex Ministers, theirs are N259.9 million or N6.07 million and N5.8 million for the senior and junior Minister respectively. For 133 ex Special Advisers and Special Assistants, theirs are N775.2 million. The annual basic salary of a Special Adviser at the Presidency is N1, 942,000 while that at the State level is N1, 250. 000. The total sum officially squandered in severance allowances of the referenced ex Federal officials is N3, 24 billion.

At the State level, each of the 20 out-gone Governors and their Deputies got at least N800 million, translating to N16 billion. About 600 ex State lawmakers got a total of N1.35 billion or N2.68 million each. The annual basic salary of a State lawmaker in Nigeria is N1.34 million. The 72 ex Speakers and Deputy Speakers got at least N2 billion or N60 million per former speaker/deputy as State Government funded severance allowances. About 1,300 ex State executive members including Commissioners and SAs got a total of N4.87 billion or N3, 75 million each. The annual basic salaries of each of State Commissioners and Special Advisers are N1, 33 million and N1.25 million respectively.

As for inaugural allowances made up of furniture, car and housing allowances, a total of N9 billion has been spent on the new President and his Vice, 36 incoming Ministers, 107 Senators and 258 House of Reps members. By law, the Senate President, his Deputy, the House Speaker and his Deputy are formally excluded from benefiting from the three allowances because the Federal Government quarters them, but the monetary cost of kitting them as well as the new President and his Vice is valued at over N400 million. It is important to state that all public office holders recognized by the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation & Fiscal Commission and the Consolidated Top Public Office Holders Salaries & Allowances Act of 2008 numbering 17,500 are entitled to furniture, housing and vehicle allowances on assumption of office.

Housing allowance is paid yearly and it attracts 200% of the beneficiary’s annual basic salary; furniture allowance is paid once in four years and attracts 300% of annual basic salary and vehicle loan/allowance is paid once in four years and it attracts 400% of annual basic salary. The above is the outcome of a controversial monetization policy introduced in 2007. The housing allowances of the 107 new Senators excluding the Senate President and his Deputy cost the Federation of Nigeria N433.6 million or N4.052 million each. The 358 new House of Reps members excluding the House Speaker and his Deputy got N1.42 billion or N3.97 million each for housing allowances. In furniture allowance, the 107 new Senators got N650.4 million or N6.07 million each.

The 358 new House of Reps members also got N2.132 billion or N5.95 million each as furniture allowances. In vehicle loan/allowance, the 107 new Senators got N867.2 million or N8.1 million each and the 358 House of Reps members got N2.842 billion or N7.94 million each. The 36 new Ministers will receive N140.9 million as housing allowances or N3.9 million each. They will further receive N218.5 million or N6.079 million each as furniture allowances and N281.8 million or N7.83 million each as vehicle allowances. The totality of this is valued at N7.3 billion. There is also another N1.7 billion comprising fueling, vehicle maintenance, domestic assistants, among others, pegged at 75% of their annual basic salaries; which bring the total to N9 billion.

At the State level, the 2,592 new State executive members comprising Commissioners and Special Advisers on average of 70 per State; got N29.25 billion or N11.25 million each for housing, furniture and vehicle allowances. Each State Commissioner and Special Adviser is paid N1, 33 million and N1, 25 million respectively as annual basic salaries and their housing; furniture and vehicle allowances are 200%, 300% and 400% of their annual basic salaries. The 1,152 new State lawmakers got N18.8 billion or N12 million each as housing, furniture and vehicle allowances. A State lawmaker in Nigeria is paid N1.34 million as annual basic salaries. There are 2,664 State executives in Nigeria recognized by the Consolidated Top Public Office Holders Salaries & Allowances Act of 2008; out of which, 72 are governors and deputy governors.

Criminal Life Pensions For Ex Governors & Their Deputies: From our analytical findings, the Federation of Nigeria lost at least N16 billion ($80 million) in one day (29th May 2015) in the hands of its 20 out-gone governors and their deputies in the form of Severance Allowances and Life Pensions. In other words, each of the referenced 20 ex governors and their deputies pocketed at least N800 million ($4 million). Of this criminal sum, their publicly funded house complexes alone cost N500 million or $2.5 million on average. For instance, the referenced outrageous entitlements of out-gone Governor Babtunde Raji Fashola of Lagos State and his deputy is valued at over N1.5 billion or $75 million; out of which their publicly funded house complexes constitute about 80%. The out-gone governors of the 20 States are Babatunde Fashola (Lagos), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (Kano), Ibrahim Shema (Katsina), Ramalan Yero (Kaduna), Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Isa Yuguda (Bauchi), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Saidu Dakingari (Kebbi), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Bala Nggilari (Adamawa), Danbaba Suntai (Taraba) and Gabriel Suswam (Benue), Jonah Jang (Plateau), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Martins Elechi (Ebonyi), Sullivan Chime (Enugu), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Theodore Orji (Abia), and Liyel Imoke (Cross River).

Apart from statutory entitlements provided for the country’s top elected and appointed public officers numbering 17,500, to be enjoyed at the end of their statutory public assignments chiefly called the severance allowances (courtesy of Consolidated Top Public Office Holders Salaries & Allowances Act of 2008); it is our observation that all the 20 out-gone governors and their deputies have before leaving office made outrageous cash and monetized provisions running into billions of naira as their Life Pension entitlements. These they did using their leprous State Houses of Assembly through State Laws or legislatively sanctioned administrative pronouncements. The outrageous monetized and cash provisions are classified in the form of first line charge in their States’ financial expenditures. In other words, the monetized items and cash sums have long been cornered and pocketed before leaving office.

These outrageous ex gubernatorial benefits include 100% current salary pay for life, one or two mansions built and furnished by the State, free medical service, fully paid annual vacation, cars, numerous aides, among others. For want of space, the three States of Katsina, Lagos and Akwa Ibom are critically analyzed.

In Katsina State, its out-gone Governor Ibrahim Shema, his deputy Garba Faskari and their aides have pocketed N1.1 billion ($5.5 million) as severance allowances and Life gratuities. Already the said amount has been provided in the 2015 approved budget of N110 billion, which constitutes 10% of the total budget. According to the Daily Trust quoting documents presented to the All Progressives Congress transition committee by the State Accountant General during their interface, Governor Shema and his Deputy Garba Faskari, alone, received N370 million and N217 million naira respectively. This excludes other basketful of benefits like house complexes, etc.

More Facts On Ex Governors’ Criminal Life Pensions: According to the Public Office Holders (Payment of Pension) Law of Lagos State 2007, approved by former Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2007, there is a provision for a multi-million naira severance payment for the out-gone governor and his deputy. Specifically, out-gone Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, will enjoy the following benefits for life: two houses in places of his choice in Lagos and Abuja (Property & Estate Management experts have noted that a house in Lagos will cost N500 million and Abuja N700 million) (source: Daily Trust). The Lagos State’s out-gone Deputy Governor is also entitled to a house in any place of his choice in Lagos (possibly Ikoyi or Victoria Island or Lekki). The out-gone governor of Lagos State and his deputy likewise their counterparts in other States, by the provisions of the Consolidated Top Public Office Holders Salaries & Allowances Act of 2008 (formerly Salaries & Allowances for Top Public Office Holders Act of 2002), are entitled to 300% of their annual basic salaries as severance gratuities or N6.7 million and N6.3 million respectively.

Other stipulated entitlements for the out-gone Lagos State Governor are six brand new cars replaceable every three years; furniture allowance of 300% of annual salary to be paid every two years, a sum of N2.5 million as pension translating to N30 million pension annually. He will also enjoy security detail (i.e. eight mobile policemen, three SSS operatives, etc), free medicals including members of his immediate families, 10% house maintenance, 30% car maintenance, 10% entertainment, 20% utility, several domestic staff, among others.

In Akwa Ibom State, according to its Life Pension for the out-gone governor and his deputy, a sum of N200 million annual pay for ex Governor Goodswill Akpabio is provided. Others are a new official car and a utility vehicle every four years; one personal aide and provision of adequate security; a cook, chauffeurs and security guards for the governor at a sum not exceeding N5 million per month and N2.5 million for the deputy governor, free medical services for governor and spouse at an amount not exceeding N100 million for the governor per annum and N50 million for the deputy governor. Two five-bedroom mansions in Abuja and Akwa Ibom State, furniture allowance of 300 percent of annual basic salary every four years in addition to severance gratuity of N6.7 million and N6.3 million for the ex governor and his deputy respectively(sources: Daily Trust).

Other Scandalous Spending: The Federation of Nigeria also lost in seven days a staggering sum of N16billion in the hands of its 20 out-gone Governors and their Deputies in the form of “May 2015 security votes”; on average of N800 million each. To get 20 new Governors and their Deputies on gubernatorial board; Nigeria lost at least N3 billion or N150 million each with their new official vehicles taken the lion’s share or N110 million for eight jeeps (five for governor and three for his deputy) at N14million each (Prado Jeep). To get 20 new Governors and their Deputies inaugurated on 29th May 2015, Nigeria lost at least N2 billion or N100 million each and to get the new President and his Vice inaugurated same day, Nigeria lost at least N300 million including catering for dozens of invited foreign dignitaries.

These give a grand total of N105.8 billion or $528 million as total public sums squandered in seven days on 6,806 public office holders at the Federal and State levels. This excludes over 1,200 Special Assistants who have come on board to work for the Presidency, Federal lawmakers, State Governors and their Deputies as well as Ministers, State lawmakers and leaderships of Federal and State legislatures. By the Consolidated Top Public Office Holders Salaries & Allowances Act of 2008, 75% of the annual basic salaries of their employers or bosses are earmarked for their remunerations.

Source: http://nigeriamasterweb.com/Masterweb/breakingnews-2615-democracy-day-squander-mania-how-nigeria-lost-n1058-billion-528-million-6806

I keep asking myself this daunting question ' can this country ever be rid of corruption'

billion has to redefine its value in Nigeria politics

adexeli:
I keep asking myself this daunting question ' can this country ever be rid of corruption'

My broda i tire o. The rot has really eaten deep into the fabric of this nation.

As for inaugural allowances made up of furniture, car and housing allowances, a total of N9 billion has been spent on the new President and his Vice, 36 incoming Ministers, 107 Senators and 258 House of Reps members.

For instance, the referenced outrageous entitlements of out-gone Governor Babtunde Raji Fashola of Lagos State and his deputy is valued at over N1.5 billion or $75 million; out of which their publicly funded house complexes constitute about 80%. The out-gone governors of the 20 States are Babatunde Fashola (Lagos), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (Kano), Ibrahim Shema (Katsina), Ramalan Yero (Kaduna), Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Isa Yuguda (Bauchi), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Saidu Dakingari (Kebbi), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Bala Nggilari (Adamawa), Danbaba Suntai (Taraba) and Gabriel Suswam (Benue), Jonah Jang (Plateau), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Martins Elechi (Ebonyi), Sullivan Chime (Enugu), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Theodore Orji (Abia), and Liyel Imoke (Cross River).

More Facts On Ex Governors’ Criminal Life Pensions: According to the Public Office Holders (Payment of Pension) Law of Lagos State 2007, approved by former Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2007, there is a provision for a multi-million naira severance payment for the out-gone governor and his deputy. Specifically, out-gone Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, will enjoy the following benefits for life: two houses in places of his choice in Lagos and Abuja (Property & Estate Management experts have noted that a house in Lagos will cost N500 million and Abuja N700 million) (source: Daily Trust).

Other stipulated entitlements for the out-gone Lagos State Governor are six brand new cars replaceable every three years; furniture allowance of 300% of annual salary to be paid every two years, a sum of N2.5 million as pension translating to N30 million pension annually. He will also enjoy security detail (i.e. eight mobile policemen, three SSS operatives, etc), free medicals including members of his immediate families, 10% house maintenance, 30% car maintenance, 10% entertainment, 20% utility, several domestic staff, among others.

The emboldened were supposed to be change agents but they are all one and the same.

May God help us

Front page things.

Goodluck Jonathan had 133 Special Advisers and Special Assistant.. Excellent

barcanista:
The emboldened were supposed to be change agents but they are all one and the same.

May God help us

And what word do you have for those who spent six years doing absolutely nothing other than to loot and squander public funds?.

Your one sidedness speak volumes of your narrow mindedness, how can you even criticize a particular set of individuals when the other set of individual do the exact same thing?. Anyway you need to earn your salary so prostitute all you want, many have come to see you for who you truly are!.

Speaking truthfully, the amount spent on this yeye inauguration is outrightly outrageous! Yet they will say Nigeria has no money. I think its time we all charge our political leaders to curb the high amount the use to keep themselves feed and fatten!.

Real change can not come at the expense of some individuals while others wallow in poverty and penury!.

olatunji21:
Goodluck Jonathan had 133 Special Advisers and Special Assistant.. Excellent

Funny barcanista didn't see that fact! But chose to rant like a LovePeddler not given her stipend after being made use of and dumped!.

Booked

I am afraid eradicating corruption might take eternity to achieve.

Governor Babtunde Raji Fashola of Lagos State and his deputy is valued at over N1.5 billion or $75 million; out of which their publicly funded house complexes constitute about 80%.

APC.

In Akwa Ibom State, according to its Life Pension for the out-gone governor and his deputy, a sum of N200 million annual pay for ex Governor Goodswill Akpabio is provided. Others are a new official car and a utility vehicle every four years; one personal aide and provision of adequate security; a cook, chauffeurs and security guards for the governor at a sum not exceeding N5 million per month and N2.5 million for the deputy governor, free medical services for governor and spouse at an amount not exceeding N100 million for the governor per annum and N50 million for the deputy governor. Two five-bedroom mansions in Abuja and Akwa Ibom State, furniture allowance of 300 percent of annual basic salary every four years in addition to severance gratuity of N6.7 million and N6.3 million for the ex governor and his deputy respectively

PDP. I would preferred that simple and direct breakdown of Lagos State for Akwa Ibom.

APC, like PDP. with all these unnecessary allocations, how can the common man survive? I think leaders plant trees whose shade they know they will never sit in but reverse is the case here. Short of words!

This excludes over 1,200 Special Assistants who have come on board to work for the Presidency, Federal lawmakers, State Governors and their Deputies as well as Ministers, State lawmakers and leaderships of Federal and State legislatures. By the Consolidated Top Public Office Holders Salaries & Allowances Act of 2008, 75% of the annual basic salaries of their employers or bosses are earmarked for their remunerations.

Job creation ended here.

olatunji21:
Goodluck Jonathan had 133 Special Advisers and Special Assistant.. Excellent

wonderful.....wetin dem dey advice

tayoxx:
wonderful.....wetin dem dey advice

It's part of the purported employment they created

Nigeria knows how to spend on ceremonies starting from the common man