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Nigeria’s government has failed to pay the country’s ex-leaders their monthly salaries and allowances since January because of a cash crisis, government secretary Babachir Lawal has said.
He made the disclosure during a meeting with group of senators, raising questions about whether the government was in breach of the constitution which guarantees ex-leaders salaries for life, reports BBC Abuja bureau chief Naziru Mikailu.
There are six ex-leaders whose salaries have been cut, including that of 91-year-old Shehu Shagari, who was elected in 1979 and overthrown by the military in 1983 after winning elections.
They include :
Olusegun Obasanjo – military ruler from 1976 to 1979 and elected president from 1999 to 2007
Ibrahim Babangida – military ruler from 1985 to 1993
Ernest Shonekan – interim president in 1993
Abdulsalami Abubakar – military ruler from 1998 to 1999.
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Current President Muhammadu Buhari, who is also former military, was elected to office last year after defeating Mr Jonathan – the first Nigerian leader to relinquish power without a fight.
Former President Shehu Shagari is said to live hand-to-mouth, Elombah.com has learnt.
In an interview with Punch newspaper, Senator Aliyu Wamakko condemned the failure to pay Mr Shagari:
We can understand if former President Goodluck Jonathan has not been paid because he just left office. But for someone like Shagari, who lives from hand-to-mouth, it is something I can’t understand. This development is really unfortunate. It doesn’t indicate seriousness and it doesn’t indicate fairness.”
Naziru says that unlike Mr Shagari, other ex-leaders are wealthy so they are unlikely to feel the pinch.
Our reporter says it is likely that the salaries of vice-presidents have also been stopped.
