In our quest to have a government of “the people by the people and for the people,” we have experimented with British parliamentary democracy and American presidential system. So far, the American brand of democracy has failed to meet the needs of Nigerians.
We left out some basic critical elements that make the American model the envy of the world. A few examples will suffice. Separation of powers and checks and balances are patently missing in our system. The rule of law is a mirage in the Nigerian presidential system. We operate the most corrupt, bloated, and expensive system in the world.
The US President pays for everything except rent and staff.
Here are the 12 things the US President pays for:
1. Groceries: Presidents and their families must pay for their own food.
2. Designer clothing: If the president or first lady wants to wear designer clothing, they must pay for it.
3. Dry cleaning: Presidents have to cover the dry cleaning of their clothes.
4. Staff for private parties: Whenever a president holds a private party in the White House, they are responsible for paying the hourly costs for waiters and cleanup crews.
5. Gifts for foreign dignitaries: Presidents pay out of their own pockets for gifts to foreign heads of states while visiting the White House.
6. Vacation accommodations: When a president goes on vacation, they have to foot the bill for the hotel or rental house where they stay with their family.
7. Private events outside the White House: If a president wants to hold a private event outside of the White House or Camp David, this is also an expense they must pay for on their own.
8. Hairstylists: For first ladies, they have to hire their own hairstylist.
9. General household items: Presidents pay for toilet paper, toothpaste and garbage bags, etc.
10. Some interior decorating: Congress appropriates funds for the care, repair, refurnishing and maintenance of the White House and its grounds. For example, the House and Senate approved a $100,000 stipend in Bill Clinton’s second term to redecorate parts of the White House. However, if the first family spends more than the allocated amount, they have to pay for the difference themselves.
11. Some legal fees: In some instances, the president has to pay for their own legal fees. This was the case for Bill and Hillary Clinton, who left the White House $16 million in debt between the defense attorneys’ fees for scandal investigations and the impeachment proceedings against Bill Clinton.
12. Their personal homes: Despite the fact that presidents and their families won’t live in their personal residences for at least four years, they are responsible for paying the mortgage and any upkeep of the houses themselves. What does Nigerian President pay for?