President Jonathan,Sambo And Aides to get 3.24bn Severance Allowance

An investigation carried out by the Punch
Newspaper has revealed that President Goodluck
Jonathan, Vice-president Namadi Sambo, non-
returning federal lawmakers, ministers and
presidential aides will collect N3.24bn as
severance allowances.
The severance allowances are contained in the
Remuneration Package put together by the
Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal
Commission.
According to the package, Jonathan, who will
hand over to the President-elect, Muhammadu
Buhari, on May 29, is entitled to 300 per cent of
his annual basic salary.
The newspaper breaks down the allowances
below:
The President’s annual basic salary is put at N3,
514,705 and therefore his severance allowance
will be N10, 544,115 after May 29.
The severance allowance is without prejudice to
his other constitutional entitlements as a former
head of government.
Similarly, Vice-President Sambo, who leaves
office the same day as Jonathan, is also entitled
to 300 per cent of his annual basic salary put at
N3, 031,572.50. This means that his severance
allowance after May 29 is N9, 094,717.50.
For having held the office of vice- president,
Sambo also has some constitutional entitlements
and perks.
About 76 senators are not returning to the
National Assembly either because they did not
stand for election or because they lost their bids
to return. They are however entitled to
N462,019,200 at the expiration of their tenure on
June 5.
Like Jonathan and Sambo, they are entitled to
300 per cent of their annual basic salaries as
severance allowances. This amounts to N6,
079,200 per senator.
In the House of Representatives, about 290
members are not returning to the 8th National
Assembly to be proclaimed into existence by
Buhari on June 5.
Each of the members is entitled to N5,
955,637.50 as severance allowance. This means
that the 290 members will be paid N1,
727,134,875.
The ministers, on the other hand, will be
collecting a total of N253, 967,212.5. There are
42 ministers in Jonathan’s cabinet. Thirty one of
them are senior ministers and 11 are ministers of
state.
Each of the senior ministers is entitled to N6,
079,200 severance allowance while each of the
ministers of state will receive N5, 872,740.
This means that collectively, the senior ministers
will get N188, 455,200 at the expiration of their
tenure on May 29 while collectively, the ministers
of state will be collecting N65, 512,012.5 .
The aides to the President comprising special
advisers, senior special assistants and special
assistants will get N775, 207,125.
There are 23 of them who work with the president
as special advisers. Apart from this number,
however, there are several others estimated at
110 who work with the vice-president, the First
Lady(Patience Jonathan) and special advisers that
are designated either as senior special assistants
or special assistants to the President.
This means that there are about 133 aides to the
president and each of them is entitled to 300 per
cent of their annual basic salary which amounts
to N5, 828,625.