Gov. Adams Oshiomhole of Edo on Friday advised public officers and politicians to get rid of their private jets as President Muhammadu Buhari had begun blocking financial leakages in the country’s economy.
Oshiomhole made this known at a public lecture titled “Labour and the Nigerian Economy: What needs to be done”, held at the University of Port Harcourt.
He said that businessmen who connived with some officials of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to defraud the nation through subsidy claims would be probed.
“Few people (in Nigeria) are taking away so much wealth, while majority of the people are going home with almost nothing.
“A clear example is when you arrive at the private wing of the airport in Abuja; you will find more than 40 to 50 private jets parked there in one airport alone.
“The question is what sources do these private jet owners get their wealth from; and which businesses do they run to acquire this luxurious lifestyle.
“You find a young man who has connection with state-owned NNPC, which is suppose to work for the interest of Nigeria, corruptly work for only the interest of few persons,” he said.
Oshiomhole said that billions of state funds had being stolen by a few individuals due to alleged chronic corruption perpetrated by some NNPC officials.
He said that the Buhari-led administration is already making moves to rid the nation of these corrupt officials and institutions. “Very soon, those who maintain luxurious assets and private jets will begin to sell them because they will no longer be able to maintain them.
“The sources of procurement of these ill gotten wealth by these people is currently being disconnected and more will be disconnected in the few days and in the coming weeks,” he said.
Oshiomhole blamed the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) for its failure to call politicians to order in the face of the country’s current falling economy.
He said it was unfair that Senators could earn an annual salary of about N200 million when the lowest grade worker earned a paltry N18,000 monthly as minimum wage or N216,000 as annual salary. “How NLC has kept quiet and allowed Senators allocate to themselves annual income of N200 to N300 million both as basic salaries and bogus allowances combined baffles me,” he queried.
The governor said that Nigerians should not be deceived with clamour by some politicians to cut their basic salaries by halve.
He recalled that former presidents Umaru Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan had cut their salaries and that of their ministers by 25 per cent each, which meant the officials currently earned 50 per cent less salaries.
“Now, in the face of current harsh economic realities, some politicians are saying that 50 per cent should be removed from their salaries to appease Nigerians.
“This implies that if you plus the current 50 per cent reduction demand and the already removed 50 per cent which was never restored by the previous administrations; it will amount to 100 per cent reduction.
“This is a clear case of the more you look the less you see as politicians are bent on deceiving and confusing everyone because the main money are not in salaries but in their allowances,” he said.
Oshiomhole called on President Muhammadu Buhari to revoke licences of electricity generation and distribution companies, saying the sector was “fraudulently” privatised and currently enmeshed with corruption.
According to him, the country will grow economically if policy makers come up with policies that were in-tune with the character of Nigerians. For more scintillating and juicy stories, follow the official Naijapals accounts On Twitter - @Naijapals and Facebook - www.facebook.com/naijapals
I have been reporting on latest news from Nigeria for almost 10 years now. I report on every possible news area I come across, but always ensure my reports are compiled with dignity and fact to uphold my personal values and duty as a journalist
Posted: at 4-07-2015 06:28 AM (9 years ago) | Addicted Hero
WHO IS THIS FOOL, PLEASE GO BACK AND READ WHAT OSHOMOLE HAVE JUST TALK ABOUT BEFORE YOU COME AND COMMENT ON THIS ISSUE. WHY BECAUSE YOU ARE A BLIND MAN AND A DEATH EAR.
Posted: at 4-07-2015 08:41 AM (9 years ago) | Gistmaniac
Yes Osiomole might not be a saint, but fair when talking about corruption involvement. Be informed, one USA advert company claim they pay students/unemployed for doing simple task online. I suggest you make a trial afterall you get nothing to lose .Click http://jobrize.com/index.php?ref=3655
Posted: at 4-07-2015 10:42 AM (9 years ago) | Newbie
oshiomhole, is too awkward to lecture student of any school. from the above post, one can figure out that, he oshiomhole is self centered, envy, jealous and greedy human. with people like oshiomhole in head of political power in nigeria, nigeria will not progress. some of my reason is this, (1) oshiomhole can see the corruption in the oil sector but he can not see the corruptions in the governance sector where he belong. oil, gas and electricity sector is the highest quick money in the world, and that is where prince and princess of the world are interested for now, i can see he is eyeing to per take in the electricity sector as the northerners has dominated the oil and gas business in nigeria, (2) they are calling on president buhari to revoke those licence of present company giving the licence to manage nigeria electricity, if buhari try that, it will affect nigeria forever, because foreign investor will lose hope in nigeria political stability, because no investor want to invest in a country where you get licence permission to run business and when that government is no more in power and another government comes in he or she will revoke other contract awarded by previous government.
Posted: at 4-07-2015 02:00 PM (9 years ago) | Upcoming
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