By normative Keynesian econometrics, Malthusian fiscal standards, Adam Smith’s budgetary prognosis and Jankara Market demand and supply economics, it is clear that financial prudence and perspicuous management of resources remainsthe better part of developmental valor.
That Nigeria’s economy is currently steeple-chasingand wallowing in the murderous oubliette of suicidal doldrums remains an unquestionable truism. This was precipitated by many years of leadership inertia, psychotic malfeasance, oil glut, cataclysmic corruption and humongous planlessness etc.
In this dire strait dungeon the Nigerian economy has been crying for an authentic Moses, a quintessential Satyagraha and somebody with a messianic zeitgeist to salvage it from these paroxysms and pangs of a rabid placebo. IS BUHARI THE ONE? TIME WILL TELL.
Recently, Buhari and his Deputy Professor Osinbajo took some deft and prudential financial steps that are quiet fundamental exemplary and sacrificial for the benefit of the CHANGE mantra, dividends of democracy and good and ethical growth of leadership and financial welfare of Nigerians.
In furtherance and consistent with their campaign promises of reducing the cost of governance for the delivery of democracy dividends to Nigerians, President Buhari and his deputy, Professor Osinbajo reduced their salaries by 500/0.
Without slips of prolixity, this implies that Buhari and Osinbajo will earn half of what former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and former Vice President Namadi Sambo earned. The current annual remuneration of the president of Nigeria as published by the Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) is ¦ 14,058,820:00. This indeed means that Buhari will henceforth earn ¦ 7,029,410 a year or ¦ 28,117,640 in four years.
To make assurance doubly sure and to avoid splendiferous histrionics, Buhari and Osinbajo have formally written to the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to inform it of the new development. The letter detailing the presidential directive is with reference number PRES/81/SGF/17.
After this patriotic slashing of his salary by500/0, President Buhari had earlier rejected a proposal from the Aso Rock hierarchical echelon to approve the purchase of five customized armored Mercedes Benz S-600(V222) cars at a cost of ¦ 400million. These commendable exemplary moves are already rubbing-off on some of our Governors like Senator (Dr) Okowa of Delta State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State and Dave Umalu of Ebonyi State. We hope that the remaining Laodicean Governors and our revered Legislators will follow suit to help alleviate the hideous intensity of impecuniosity and sordid povertyinto which former President Jonathan and his Kleptomaniac Junta plunged Nigeria.
We hope these are not mere Barmecidal-dish theatricals-the early morning pomade in the harmatan that cannot stand the rigorous test of the harsh weather. The legal icon Lord Denning said that “A contemptuously contemptible contempt must be contemptuously ignored”. But the vast majority of Nigerians will not ignore these great moves. They are sign post of greater (we hope) things to come.
It must be noted that before slashing his salary by 500/0, President Buhari had directed the release of ¦ 414 billion as bailout funds to States (recalcitrant debtors) to pay the backlog of salaries they owed their civil servants etc. Nobody gives banana to a monkey, fish to a cat and goat to a lion and collects it back with ease. We admonish the Governors and their political surrogates not to squander, misappropriate and misapply the bailout funds in reckless conviviality, meaningless revelry, social rascality and debaucherous OWAMBEISM.
Finally, talking about the tenacity of power and the ambrosial nature of ambition, the English playwright William Shakespeare observed in his masterpiece ‘Julius Caesar’ that,”When Caesar was good, we loved him, but when he became ambitious we slew him. That same dagger we have for ourselves when it shall please the down trodden to call for our blood when we err in leadership” (not verbatim). BUHARI GOODLUCK! YOU CANNOT HURRY THE SUNRISE, BUT INCREASE THE TEMPO OF DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA AND KEEP THE FLAG OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY, ALTRUISM AND TRANSPARENCY FLYING. The world is watching.
Chief Bobson Gbinije
Mandate Against Poverty (MAP)
Warri – 08023250378
