Jonathan, Sambo, Mark, 20 govs, others get over N28bn severance pay

At a time when the Nigerian economy is at its lowest ebb, former President Goodluck Jonathan, his deputy, Namadi Sambo, Senate President David Mark, his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, some governors and ministers who vacated office yesterday for a new administration would be taking a whopping sum of over N29 billion from the nation’s already lean treasury as severance allowances.

Findings in Abuja and across the states reveal that the N28 billion is the least tax payers will be losing to their public office holders while the figure could be as high as double or more if full details of benefits are provided and computed.

Starting with the Federal Government, former President Jonathan, his deputy, Sambo, non-returning federal lawmakers, ministers and presidential aides will collect a minimum of N3.336 billion as severance allowances.
Though this figure represents severance allowances  contained in the remuneration package approved for public office holders by the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), the reality is that they represent a fragment of what they eventually go with because of various hidden payments and other huge benefits not captured in the remuneration package.

The commission, which derives its powers and constitutional functions from paragraph 32 of Part I of the Third Schedule to the 1999 Constitution is vested with powers and responsibilities to: “Determine the remuneration appropriate to political office holders, including the President, Vice-President, Governors, Deputy Governors, Ministers, Commissioners, Special Advisers, Legislators and the holders of the offices mentioned in Section 84 and 124 of the Constitution”, among others.