Buhari, Osinbajo Deliver On First Campaign Promise

8 years ago

Buhari, Osinbajo Deliver On First Campaign Promise

President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo have delivered on their first campaign promise, with the declaration of their assets to the as required by the Constitution.

The 1999 Constitution of the country, as amended, states in Chapter VI Section 140 that a person elected to the office of President shall not begin to perform the functions of that office until he has declared his assets and liabilities as prescribed in the Constitution.

Though the contents of the assets declaration forms filled by the president and vice president were not disclosed as at press time, it was gathered that the forms had already been submitted and duly acknowledged by its Chairman, Sam Saba, on Friday.

Confirming the development in a statement yesterday, head of Buhari’s media team, Garba Shehu, in a statement, said the President and Vice President submitted their assets declaration forms separately on Thursday.

He said Buhari’s declarant identity was given as: President: 000001/2015.

“By declaring their assets, President Buhari and Vice President Osinbajo may have not only fulfilled the requirements of the Nigerian Constitution, but also fulfilled the first of their many campaign promises.

“While seeking election into the highest office in the land, the president had promised Nigerians that he would publicly declare his assets as soon as he took over government,” he wrote.

Meanwhile, if information on the website of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission(RMAFC) is anything to go by,
President Buhari will earn a basic monthly salary of N292, 892.08, while Osinbajo will take home N252, 63.04 as his monthly basic salary.

RMAFC is statutorily empowered by Section 32 (d) of Part 1 of the Third Schedule of the Constitution to determine the remuneration appropriate for political office holders. The salaries and allowances are drawn from the Consolidated Revenue Fund. The current salary structure and allowances were fixed by the RMAFC in 2007.

The RMAFC website puts the annual basic salaries of the nation’s number one citizen and his that of Vice President at N3, 514, 705 and N3, 031, 572.50 respectively.

The current salary structure and allowances were fixed by the RMAFC in 2007 and there is no indication on the agency’s website that the wages have been reviewed.

For Buhari, with other allowances, the total amount payable monthly is N1, 171,568.33 and N14, 058, 820.00 per annum.

In the case of Osinbajo, he is entitled to a total of N1, 010, 524. 17 monthly, and N12, 126,290.00 per annum.

Besides basic salaries, the nation’s two topmost public officers are also entitled to various regular allowances such as hardship, 50 per cent of the basic salary – N1, 757, 350.50; consistency – 250 per cent, N8, 786, 762.50.

Their irregular allowances include accommodation and furniture. These are provided for by government in Aso Rock, where they will reside during their tenure. However, the nation’s leaders will receive regular duty tour allowance (per night), estacode (per night) and medical allowances when requested.

The allowances are paid periodically, some monthly and a few once in four years. Duty Tour Allowance and Estacode depend on travels.

According to information on the website, the president’s severance gratuity is N10, 544, 115, that is 300 per cent of basic; he is entitled to a leave allowance of N351, 470. 50 (10 per cent of basic salary) and optional motor vehicle loan of N14, 058, 820, of 400 per cent, to be repaid before the expiration of the president’s tenure.

Prof Osinbajo will also get allowances such as motor vehicle, feeding and maintenance, special assistant, personal assistant, domestic staff, entertainment utility, security, newspaper and periodicals, while the number two man’s hardship, consistency, severance gratuity and leave allowance are at N1, 515, 786.25; N7, 578, 931.25; N9, 094, 717.50 and N303, 157.25 respectively.

He will also receive a motor vehicle loan of 400 per cent of his basic salary which is N12, 126, 290; to be repaid at the expiration of his tenure.
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