President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration will spend N8.63 billion on ministers’ salaries and allowances over the next four years, according to findings by the Daily Trust.
The figure could however rise as the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) finalises its review of public servants’ remuneration
But experts who spoke with Correspondents disclosed that the large cabinet contradicts President Bola Tinubu’s promise of reducing the cost of governance.
They also said having many ministers who would in turn have many aides would put a lot of pressure on resources available at the detriment of millions of Nigerians who are in need of good governance.
This is the first time a federal cabinet will be made up of 48 ministers since the return of democracy in the country in 1999.
Tinubu’s immediate predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, had 42 ministers.
Similarly, in 2011, former President Goodluck Jonathan appointed 33 ministers to his cabinet, nine of whom were carried over from the late President Umar Yar’Adua’s administration.
The late President Yar’Adua appointed 39 ministers in 2007; while former President Olusegun Obasanjo had 42 ministers in 1999.
Meanwhile, the federal government will spend over N13 billion on the salaries and allowances of the ministers alone.
This excludes estacodes and other travel expenses that the government will spend on the incoming ministers.
Experts say considering the penchant for traveling by Nigerian politicians, only time will tell how much this will guzzle from Nigeria’s forex, which is hard to get considering our low output in terms of export.
It is very common to see ministers attending international conferences and in some cases jetting out in search of foreign investment for the sector they superintend.
