Salary Cut: Other Public Officials Should Follow The Laudable Example, Says Hon

There is nothing wrong in law with the President, his vice and some governors’ decision to slash their salaries.

In 2006, the then newly elected centre-right President of Mexico, Felipe Calderon, slashed his salary as a symbolic gesture to help revamp the Mexican economy.

As recent as May 2015, British Prime Minister, David Cameron and his ministers slashed their monthly emoluments to help save four million pounds for the UK economy. I can go on and on.

I want to state that in all those countries, statutory bodies are also created to fix salaries for public officials, just as is the case with Nigeria. And let me add that a person’s salary is his personal right which can be waived without qualms.

There is, therefore, no iota of unconstitutionality or illegality in what President Buhari, Vice-President Osinbajo and the other governors have done. Indeed, I most sincerely commend this symbolic gesture by Mr. President and the named officials.

It is very possible to do the arithmetic. The President and those officials will do formal letters to the relevant government agencies responsible for payment of salaries that will deduct such salary cuts at source. This applies to other personal allowances, but I must caution here that no deductions or cuts in allowances should be carried out in such a way as to impede good governance. As regards security votes, this should be a no go area.

The reason is plain enough: the security of these high octane officials is not personal to them, since they are equated to the geo-political entities they are administering.

In other words, the security of these officials is of paramount to the stability of our polity, hence should not be compromised under any guise.

As I stated above, voluntary reduction in salary is a welcome gesture that should be applauded by all men of good will. If other officials follow suit, we will succeed in saving billions of naira. Let me also caution against viewing this symbolism as a subtle blackmail of any previous administration.

By the way, who are the dramatis personae involved in this? Is it President Buhari? We all know his antecedents and I will not say much here. I was told of a time he was on queue to buy fuel. After a short while, some people recognised him and beckoned on him to drive to the frontline. He sharply declined.

The ‘concerned citizens’ then decided to push the car to the front. Trust President Buhari, he started his engine and reversed to status quo! Is Vice-President Osinbajo not the very successful lawyer and deep Christian we all know? Is Governor el Rufai not the best FCT Minister we have ever had? Finally, is Governor Gadunje of Kano State not the only Deputy Governor to succeed his boss in this dispensation? These indeed are respectable Nigerians. Let other public officials follow this laudable example.
Mr. Sebastine Hon ( SAN) is a constitutional lawyer.