Buhari Plans To Cut His Own Salary And Allowances

There are signs that President Muhammadu
Buhari may have concluded plans to cut his own
salary and reduce his personal allowances in
fulfilment of his promise to reduce cost of
governance.


President Muhammadu Buhari
It was gathered that the president expects his
vice and all other political appointees to do like
wise.
According to Punch, the president would have
made his decision public but chose to consult
with his close associates on how best to
approach the issue without being seen as
dictatorial.
The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal
Commission informs that President Buhari will
earn a monthly salary of N3, 514, 705, his
allowance N1,757,350.50( 50% of his salary).
There is no information yet as to what
percentage of the president’s salary will be
reduced. But sources say that the president will
reduce the State House budget.

The president also plans to slash the appointment
of aides and possibly implement the report of the
Stephen Oronsaye-led Presidential Committee on
the Rationalisation and Restructuring of Federal
Government Parastatals, Commissions and
Agencies.
President Buhari who in his inaugural speech, said
that Nigeria’s economy was in deep trouble, might
not increase the number of special advisers from
15 as part of the measures he his taking to cut
down the cost of governance.
A top chieftain of the All Progressive Congress
(APC), said that the president had concluded
plans to submit some bills to the National
Assembly for the implementation of some cost-
saving measures.

Mr. Rotimi Fashakin, a polical associate of the
president told Punch that an area likely to be
affected is the Presidential Air fleet which is said
to have about 10 air crafts. He said the cost of
maintaining these air crafts may get the
president’s attention.
Adding that President Buhari who has experienced
governance is not one to do things without
consultation.
It will be recalled that former President Goodluck
Jonathan’s administration made a provision of
N348, 342,741 as honorarium and sitting
allowance for the State House in the 2015
budget.
The provision made for travel and transport
showed that the president will be spending N1,
306,834,350 on local travels and transport and
N621, 067,913 on international travel and
transport.
In 2014 the travel bill of the president was higher
than the provision made. The budget made a
provision of N2, 378,862,017 for the office of the
president for local and international travels.
For food supplies, a provision of N142, 472,537
was made for the office of the president.
The State House received a lesser provision of
N122, 855,267 for fuel and lubricants.

The 2015 budget proposal included a provision of
N131, 911,315 for fuel and lubricants for the
State House. The breakdown showed that plant/
generator fuel will consume N35, 344,855; motor
vehicle fuel will consume N85, 843,802 while
cooking gas/fuel will consume N10, 102,858.
In 2014 the provision of N60, 847,647 was made
for the office of the president for advertisement
and publicity.
For the State House, N287,514,283 provision was
made for welfare packages; N174,537,975 for
refreshment and meals; N215, 635,715 for food
stuff and catering services; N31,582,475 for
medical expenses; and N35,495,233 for publicity
and advertisement. These provisions are likely to
be reduced.
Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, a
close associate of the president in his inaugural
speech, announced a fifty per cent cut in his
salary and that of his deputy
till when the economy of the state was better.