ABUJA—THE dollar salaries of Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonojo-Iweala and her Foreign Affairs counterpart, Mr. Olu Adeniji run foul of Nigeria’s laws, officials of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) said yesterday in Abuja.

But Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, also speaking on the issue in Lagos yesterday absolved the ministers of any blame in the controversy, saying it was government that should be blamed for the situation.

Officials of the RMAFC, the body charged with working out the emoluments of public officers, said the nation’s constitution “does not discriminate between ministers— between the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Culture or Water Resources, for instance.” They spoke on condition of anonymity.

The Enrolment of Certain Political, Public and Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances, etc) Act 2002, a copy of which the officials used to buttress their position, indicated that the salaries of Dr. Okonjo-Iweala and Mr. Adeniji are kilometres from the provisions of the Act, both in quantum and denomination.

Dr. Okonjo-Iweala receives $247,000.00 (about N36 million), while Mr. Adeniji receives $120,000.00 (about N17 million), annually.
The provisions of the 2002 Act prescribe the following basic salaries for political office holders: President— N1,405,882.00; Chief Justice of Nigeria—N1,346,589.00;  Vice president—N1.212,629.00;Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Minister—N794,085.00; Minister of State—N783,032.00;Special Adviser—N777,150.00.

On why the commission did not advise the president and his aides who negotiated the salaries with the two ministers who were until their appointments working for international organisations, the officials said the presidency was properly briefed on the implications.
“Besides, the law is very clear. Nobody has the right to approve salaries and any other benefits for public and political office holders outside of the provisions of the law,” they said.

Soyinka blamesblunder on FG

Meanwhile, Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, said yesterday that the Federal Government should be blamed for paying two of its ministers discriminatory salaries. He spoke in Lagos at a press  briefing convened by the Citizens Forum— a new pro-democracy group in the country.
Said he: “The affected ministers ought not be blamed by the press and other public commentators for receiving salaries that are higher than those of their colleagues since the government deliberately decided to pay them their current remuneration even when this is against the provisions of the constitution.”

The celebrated playwright said Finance Ministers, Dr. Stella Okonjo-Iweala, and her Foreign Affairs counterpart, Ambassador Olujimi Adeniji, had the right to negotiate with government on what salaries they considered befitting them, considering factors like their professional experience, their international contacts and the circumstances prevailing at the time of their appointment.

Commenting on other national issues, Soyinka said the prevailing circumstances in the country had necessitated the establishment of the new pro-democracy coalition, adding that the group’s major agenda would be that of giving a platform to the  the masses to express their views on national issues.

“For a long time the government has continued to believe that only people like Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti, Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN) and myself  are speaking. Now, this forum would provide an opportunity for the government to hear what the people are saying directly, apart from what leaders of the pro-democracy groups are saying,” he said.
 He said recent events in Anambra State were disturbing and could be replicated in any other state in the country if the trend continued unchecked. He further said the extent of rigging that characterised  the 2003 general election was only revealed recently.

He accused the Federal Government of gradually drifting towards a civilian dictatorship that is intolerant of opposition and has no respect for the principle of separation of powers in government.