NIGERIA’S BUHARI TAKES 50% ANNUAL SALARY CUT

Abuja, Nigeria, 26 Ramadan 1436/13 July 2015 (MINA) – Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered his yearly salary to be slashed by some 50 percent to reflect current economic realities in Africa’s top energy earner, which has been hard hit by the recent fall of global crude oil prices.

“The president will only take half of the annual salary received by his predecessor [former President Goodluck Jonathan],” Buhari spokesman Garba Shehu said in a statement issued late Friday.

“The president’s decision was conveyed yesterday to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation by Nebolisa Emodi, permanent secretary of State House [the seat of Nigeria’s government],” Shehu added, Anadolu Agency quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

A statement issued by Emodi noted that, following the decision, the president would henceforth receive a yearly salary of some 14 million Nigerian naira (roughly $70,000).

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Emodi went on to note, had “similarly given up half of his official remuneration.”

The move follows widespread public criticism over the large salaries received by Nigerian lawmakers, who are known for being the highest paid parliamentarians in the world.

Following Buhari’s decision, lawmakers, too, have reportedly promised to consider taking pay cuts.

More than two-thirds of Nigeria’s 36 regional states are currently unable to pay their employees due to dwindling oil revenues, prompting the Buhari government to provide them with a financial bailout. (T/P001/R03)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)