Ken Achufuna, a lawyer and Coordinator, Citizen Rights Lawyering, a
London-based human rights group that promotes, campaigns and protects’ citizen
rights, in this interview compares the ostentatious lifestyle of Nigerian
leaders with that of the British Prime Minister
How will you, given what you have read so far, describe the lifestyle of the President of Nigeria?
High cost of governance starts from Aso Rock. There is a criminal waste of resources. This is not just synonymous with this regime but most Nigerian regimes.
As a UK resident, we want you to compare this with the lifestyle of the British Prime Minister.
Not comparable. With respect, Nigeria seems to have ministers and public servants of waste. I would think that our public officers, like Caesar’s wife, do no wrong.
Just recently the British Prime Minister visited the Olympic Park in Stratford, using the London underground. He did not have valid papers on him and was stopped by a soldier. He had nothing but words of praise for the soldier for being on his “mark”. Is it conceivable for our leaders to use public transport? That may be a taboo! The truth is that most Nigerian leaders’ lifestyle seems to indicate that they are, like Charles the IV of France once claimed, “The State”.
Is the PM’s salary public knowledge?
David Cameron who is the current British Prime Minister earns £142,500 per year. Recently the Civil Service disclosed the salaries of all of the Cabinet members who earn over £150,000. David Cameron’s £142,500 was used as a bench mark for this. I do not really know what the annual salaries of our leaders are but the monies being speculated as spent by them on miscellaneous expenses suggests that we are going backwards as a nation.
Is there provision for Office of the PM’s Wife? What exactly does she do?
There is no provision for Office of the Prime Minister’s wife. This is unknown to the law as there is no enabling law or statute creating same. Besides, the Prime Minister is not the Head of State as the Queen takes precedence over all. My understanding is that the British Prime Ministers’ wives often called “Spouse of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom” stay merely in the background. They are not given a salary or official duties. Their role includes playing hostess at 10 Downing Street, during State visits or other summits. They also appear at important conferences or other meetings. They do not have a retinue of staff and security as in Nigeria and have no access to state funds.
Importantly the Office of the First Lady of Nigeria is unknown to the Nigerian Constitution and so is tainted with illegality. Every money or responsibility discharged or appropriated in that capacity, with due respect, is a criminal waste.
In Nigeria, when a President wants to land or take off from the airport, no other aircraft should take off or land. Does this happen in the UK?
My understanding is that there is no dedicated jet for the Prime Minister. Most air travel by cabinet and junior ministers is on scheduled commercial flights. However, where security considerations dictate, or where it is more cost-effective than using commercial air transport, travel may be made on the 32 Squadron aircraft. If the airport shuts down because of the Prime Minister’s flight, what would happen to the business life of the United Kingdom? You must note that there are various airlines with various commercial interests operating at the airports.
I do not think any law stipulates this conduct even in Nigeria. We are wallowing in illegality. However, this is not to say that the security of Mr. President is not an issue, but this must be done with minimum friction and disruption to the lives of other people.
And when the President or his wife moves with his/her convoy, the city is virtually shut down. Compare this with the way the British PM conducts himself. Sounds like a tale from Orwell’s Animal Farm. It’s a convention the people of Nigeria have acquiesced in and must resist. You hardly know if the U.K Prime Minister is moving. If you are not alert, you may not even observe that. Most cabinet ministers prefer travel by public transport, or their personal cars. The former Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, travelled to London every day by train.
Who pays for the meals, holidays and other personal matters of the PM and his family?
It is ridiculous to suggest that some other person apart from the Prime Minister, who receives a salary, should be responsible for these. To answer your question, you may need to look at budgets passed in the U.K. Has such an item ever been appropriated in a budget? Certainly, not! Surely such a matter should not be the responsibility of any State.
After leaving office, what are the retirement benefits of the British PM?
Before 2008, the Prime Minister, Speaker of the House of Commons and Lord Chancellor were entitled to a pension of half their final office-holder’s salary, regardless of length of service. However, in January 2008, the Review Body on Senior Salaries recommended that these special pension arrangements should not be extended to new incumbents of these offices. They are now covered by the Parliamentary Pension Contributory Pension Fund, PCPF.
Even, the British Monarchy has cut down on ostentation. As a resident of that country, in what ways?
According to figures published, the Queen’s Civil List spending fell by over £1 million. There has also been a cut in spending on property services. I am told there is a recent pay freeze, a reduction in the cost of operating the palace press office. I also understand that there are delays to planned property maintenance to help bring costs down.
How will you, given what you have read so far, describe the lifestyle of the President of Nigeria?
High cost of governance starts from Aso Rock. There is a criminal waste of resources. This is not just synonymous with this regime but most Nigerian regimes.
As a UK resident, we want you to compare this with the lifestyle of the British Prime Minister.
Not comparable. With respect, Nigeria seems to have ministers and public servants of waste. I would think that our public officers, like Caesar’s wife, do no wrong.
Just recently the British Prime Minister visited the Olympic Park in Stratford, using the London underground. He did not have valid papers on him and was stopped by a soldier. He had nothing but words of praise for the soldier for being on his “mark”. Is it conceivable for our leaders to use public transport? That may be a taboo! The truth is that most Nigerian leaders’ lifestyle seems to indicate that they are, like Charles the IV of France once claimed, “The State”.
Is the PM’s salary public knowledge?
David Cameron who is the current British Prime Minister earns £142,500 per year. Recently the Civil Service disclosed the salaries of all of the Cabinet members who earn over £150,000. David Cameron’s £142,500 was used as a bench mark for this. I do not really know what the annual salaries of our leaders are but the monies being speculated as spent by them on miscellaneous expenses suggests that we are going backwards as a nation.
Is there provision for Office of the PM’s Wife? What exactly does she do?
There is no provision for Office of the Prime Minister’s wife. This is unknown to the law as there is no enabling law or statute creating same. Besides, the Prime Minister is not the Head of State as the Queen takes precedence over all. My understanding is that the British Prime Ministers’ wives often called “Spouse of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom” stay merely in the background. They are not given a salary or official duties. Their role includes playing hostess at 10 Downing Street, during State visits or other summits. They also appear at important conferences or other meetings. They do not have a retinue of staff and security as in Nigeria and have no access to state funds.
Importantly the Office of the First Lady of Nigeria is unknown to the Nigerian Constitution and so is tainted with illegality. Every money or responsibility discharged or appropriated in that capacity, with due respect, is a criminal waste.
In Nigeria, when a President wants to land or take off from the airport, no other aircraft should take off or land. Does this happen in the UK?
My understanding is that there is no dedicated jet for the Prime Minister. Most air travel by cabinet and junior ministers is on scheduled commercial flights. However, where security considerations dictate, or where it is more cost-effective than using commercial air transport, travel may be made on the 32 Squadron aircraft. If the airport shuts down because of the Prime Minister’s flight, what would happen to the business life of the United Kingdom? You must note that there are various airlines with various commercial interests operating at the airports.
I do not think any law stipulates this conduct even in Nigeria. We are wallowing in illegality. However, this is not to say that the security of Mr. President is not an issue, but this must be done with minimum friction and disruption to the lives of other people.
And when the President or his wife moves with his/her convoy, the city is virtually shut down. Compare this with the way the British PM conducts himself. Sounds like a tale from Orwell’s Animal Farm. It’s a convention the people of Nigeria have acquiesced in and must resist. You hardly know if the U.K Prime Minister is moving. If you are not alert, you may not even observe that. Most cabinet ministers prefer travel by public transport, or their personal cars. The former Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, travelled to London every day by train.
Who pays for the meals, holidays and other personal matters of the PM and his family?
It is ridiculous to suggest that some other person apart from the Prime Minister, who receives a salary, should be responsible for these. To answer your question, you may need to look at budgets passed in the U.K. Has such an item ever been appropriated in a budget? Certainly, not! Surely such a matter should not be the responsibility of any State.
After leaving office, what are the retirement benefits of the British PM?
Before 2008, the Prime Minister, Speaker of the House of Commons and Lord Chancellor were entitled to a pension of half their final office-holder’s salary, regardless of length of service. However, in January 2008, the Review Body on Senior Salaries recommended that these special pension arrangements should not be extended to new incumbents of these offices. They are now covered by the Parliamentary Pension Contributory Pension Fund, PCPF.
Even, the British Monarchy has cut down on ostentation. As a resident of that country, in what ways?
According to figures published, the Queen’s Civil List spending fell by over £1 million. There has also been a cut in spending on property services. I am told there is a recent pay freeze, a reduction in the cost of operating the palace press office. I also understand that there are delays to planned property maintenance to help bring costs down.
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