Okupe challenges Sagay to reveal Buhari, Osinbajo take-home pay

The chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Anti-Corruption (PACAC), Professor Itse Sagay, has been asked to not only reveal details of the running costs of the principal officers of the National Assembly, but also that of President Muhammadu Buhari and his vice, Yemi Osinbajo.

The call was made by former President Goodluck Jonathan’s spokesman, Dr. Doyin Okupe, in a statement he released and made available to newsmen on Tuesday.

Sagay had claimed that N13.5 million which each senator receives as running cost on monthly basis, aside their normal N700,000 salary per month, was only a tip of the iceberg to what principal officers of the Senate receive.

He had therefore threatened to make public the monthly earnings of the leadership of the National Assembly, which he said would shock Nigerians.

But in his reaction, Okupe said that Sagay should not only disclose that of the principal officers of the Senate but should try and extend his revelation to what Buhari, Osinbajo, ministers, special advisers to the President, and other top government functionaries, including himself also go home with on monthly basis.

Okupe, went further to say that should Sagay fail to give correct figures of the running costs of all top members of the Buhari government and the leadership of the federal parliament within 24 hours, that his credibility will be affected.

“I find the threat by Professor Sagay on allowances and running costs of the leadership of the National Assembly very interesting. It will aid our fight for transparency in public affairs.

“However, he should not be selective. For us to take him seriously, he should include details of the running cost of the office of the President, Vice President, ministers, special advisers, heads of government agencies, parastatals and even himself. Afterall, all the salaries, allowances and running cost come from the same public coffers,” Okupe said.

Okupe added that Sagay should not only tell how much he is paid, but should also tell how much he spends on his numerous trips within and outside the country from funds donated by international agencies.

“For Prof. Sagay to say that the country would explode if he gives out certain figures is inciting, considering the current volatile and tensed situation in the country.

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“It will also be interesting if Sagay can tell Nigerians the achievements of his committee in the last 30 months that it has been spending government money.

“With the Corruption Perception Index rating recently released by Transparency International, it does appear that Sagay’s committee has neither helped Nigeria nor the President who set up his committee and funded it with tax- payers’ money.

“Sagay should sit down with members of his committee and develop position papers and policies that will actually help the anti-corruption war and make it more effective”, Dr Okupe suggested.

 

 

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