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Yoruba Nation In Its Constitution Proposes 'Only Compensation' For President As Nigeria's Leader, Buhari Gets At Least 18 Allowances

The proposed constitution, obtained by SaharaReporters, was drafted and submitted by a group titled Yoruba Strategy Alliance, on Sunday, August 15.

A proposed constitution for the Yoruba Nation has stated that the President of the nation will earn only a compensation for his period of service. 

The proposed constitution, obtained by SaharaReporters, was drafted and submitted by a group titled Yoruba Strategy Alliance, on Sunday, August 15.

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In a bid to ensure proper utilisation for the 'nation' resources, among others, Section 4, Clause 5 of the constitution allows the President to only earn a compensation without any other emoluments. 

The clause titled, 'President’s compensation' reads, “The President shall, at stated times, receive for his Services, a Compensation, which shall neither be increased nor diminished during the Period for which he shall have been elected, and he shall not receive within that Period any other Emolument from Yoruba Nation, or the several States.”

According to the secretary of the YSA, Michael Awosanya, the Constitution was drafted after considering several factors, including, “the nature of our People, our strengths, and what we must admit as weaknesses."

He noted that the proposed constitution takes into cognizance the best practices in governance, including the separation of powers between the federal and state governments and between the Legislative, Executive, and Judicial branches of government.

He added, “This is a constitution of limited government, which begins with ‘The People’s Rights,' recognising that in a Democracy, the People are the source of power.”

The' compensation only' clause for the President of the Yoruba Nation contradicts the current situation in Nigeria today.

Yoruba Nation agitators have always clamoured for a separate country so as to adequately control the resources of the region. 

SaharaReporters had earlier reported that Nigeria's President, Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, aside from their monthly salaries, are entitled to about 18 other jumbo allowances with no justification.

SaharaReporters learnt that apart from his salary, the President is entitled to no fewer than 18 allowances which are Personal assistant allowance, constituency, vehicle fuelling/maintenance, domestic staff, entertainment, recess, newspaper/periodicals, utilities, houses maintenance, security, special assistant, furniture, wardrobe, duty tour, accommodation, estacode, and medical allowances.

The salary breakdown was given by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission.

The commission is empowered by section 32(d) of Part1 of the Third Schedule of the Constitution to determine the revenue suitable for political office holders.

Meanwhile, the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, earns N1, 010,524.17 monthly and N12, 126,290 yearly.

He also is entitled to various allowances, including N126,315 monthly as hardship allowance and N631,577 monthly as Consistency allowance.

Other allowances for the top political office holders are accommodation allowance, furniture, duty tour allowance (per night), motor vehicle fuelling, and maintenance.

The amounts for each of these allowances are to be provided outside the official revenue mobilisation allocation framework.

SaharaReporters gathered that many of the allowances paid to Buhari and Osinbajo are kept away from the knowledge of Nigerians, particularly as relating to medical allowances, as the President has travelled abroad for medical trips more than any other sitting Nigerian president.

Despite the bleeding economy, which is currently grappling with $33 billion foreign debts, the Nigerian government has failed to yield to demands to cut the jumbo allowances paid to political office holders, including members of the National Assembly.

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Politics