ministers over accommodation problem talk
– The ministers are seeking for financial
request of N20 million per annum to settle
their accommodation problem
Ministers of federal republic of Nigeria
President Muhammadu Buhari reportedly
walked out on ministers during a meeting at
presidential villa.
The report said the ministers led by youth
and sports minister Solomon Dalung had
sought the audience of President as the
ministers for financial request of N20 million
per annum to settle their accommodation
problem but mid-way into the meeting, Mr
Buhari President stood up and ‘excused
himself’ leaving the ministers dejected and
hopeless.
President Buhari rejected the request by the
ministers “because his hands are tied by the
Remuneration Act, even though he empathises
with their situation. They were asking for N20
million per annum for their accommodation.
But prior to last week’s meeting, several other
options had been proposed, including buying
an estate or the FCDA (Federal Capital
Development Authority) building one, but these
were considered expensive and dropped. The
final option was the request for N20 million
per annum, because some ministers are
squatting in Abuja and the situation is
impacting on their jobs,” Signal reported.
Quoting a source who was present during
the meeting, the report said “The ministers
have been facing serious challenges with
accommodation and they put their heads
together to go and see the President hoping
that they could persuade him to do something.
Dalung was the spokesperson of the ministers;
Communication Minister Adebayo Shittu was
also at the meeting. Where the problem started
was when Dalung started making reference to
how ministers got a nice accommodation
package under previous governments.
He actually said that under Jonathan ministers
were given N20 million each for
accommodation. When he said that Buhari
asked if he mean N20 million for all the
ministers and Dalung replied that it was N20
million per person. It was at this point that
Buhari stood up and said he was taking his
leave and leaving Osinbajo to “sort it out” with
them,” an unnamed source was quoted.
Ministers who are perceived not be affected
with the accommodation problem are
minister of transport, Rotimi Amaechi,
minister of power, works and housing,
Babatunde Fashola and minister of solid
minerals, Kayode Fayemi.
It was however gathered the minister of
youth and sports, Solomon Dalung has
secured a low-key accommodation at
Gwarinpa district of Abuja.
Meanwhile, the ministry of budget and
national planning says it has begun the
preparation of 2017 budget.
The minister of state budget and national
planning, Zainab Ahmed who was quoted in
a statement signed by Charles Dafe, Director
of Information in the ministry disclosed this
when the Association of National
Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN) paid her a
courtesy visit.
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