The allocation for housing allowances for recently appointed ministers could potentially amount to around N343.25 million per year, as revealed by findings reported by The PUNCH.
Given this annual budget, over a span of four years, the Nigerian Federal Government is estimated to expend approximately N1.37 billion to cover accommodation costs for the 45 ministers-designate.
These allowances are based on data sourced from a document provided by the Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Allocation Commission’s official website. The allowances include provisions for accommodation (equivalent to 200% of the basic salary), domestic staff (75% of the basic salary), utilities (30% of the basic salary), and furniture (300% of the basic salary).
While most allowances are paid monthly, the furniture allowance is typically distributed once every four years.
Notably, Bola Tinubu, the President, recently disclosed the assigned portfolios for his appointed ministers.
A list acquired by a correspondent in Abuja highlighted the absence of names such as Nasir El-Rufai, a former Governor of Kaduna State, Stella Okotete, a former National Women Leader of the All Progressives Congress, and Danladi Abubakar, a ministerial nominee from Taraba State. These three candidates’ confirmation had been withheld by the Senate due to security checks.
Among the list of nominees obtained, 13 individuals were appointed as Ministers of State, while new ministries were also established.
The provided list includes ministerial designations as follows: Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy: Bosun Tijani; Minister of State, Environment and Ecological Management: Ishak Salako; Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy: Wale Edun; Minister of Marine and Blue Economy: Bunmi Tunji-Ojo; Minister of Power: Adebayo Adelabu; Minister of State, Health and Social Welfare: Tunji Alausa; Minister of Solid Minerals Development: Dele Alake; Minister of Tourism: Lola Ade-John; Minister of Transportation: Adegboyega Oyetola, and others.
Tinubu’s nomination list set a record for the highest number of ministerial nominees in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic (1999 to date), with 48 nominees. This has raised concerns about increasing governance costs.
His nominees surpassed the 42 appointed by his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, in 2019, by an additional five individuals.
Tinubu initially nominated 28 individuals to be cleared by the Senate as ministers. Subsequently, he sent an additional list of 19 nominees, resulting in a total of 47 potential cabinet members.
However, Tinubu later withdrew the nomination of Maryam Shetty from Kano State and replaced her with Dr. Mariya Mahmoud Bunkure, also from Kano State. He also added the name of Festus Keyamo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria from Delta State, as a nominee for screening.
During his first term, Buhari appointed 36 ministers, with that number increasing to 42 in his second term.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan appointed 33 nominees to his cabinet in 2011, including nine from the Umar Yar’Adua administration.
In 2007, Yar’Adua formed a 39-member cabinet comprising 32 men and seven women.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo initially named 42 ministers in 1999 but later streamlined his cabinet, reducing the number of ministries and ministers to 27 and 40, respectively, before the end of his term in 2007.
Despite calls for reduced governance costs, Tinubu has now surpassed Obasanjo, Yar’Adua, Jonathan, and Buhari by nominating 48 potential ministers, setting a new record since Nigeria’s return to democracy 24 years ago.
Although three nominees are pending approval, the total number of ministers has been reduced to 45, still surpassing previous administrations.
It has been revealed that each minister is entitled to an accommodation allowance of N4.05 million, domestic staff allowance of N1.52 million, utilities allowance of N0.61 million, and a furniture allowance of N6.08 million, distributed once every four years.
Each minister of state is entitled to an accommodation allowance of N3.92 million, domestic staff allowance of N1.47 million, utilities allowance of N0.59 million, and a furniture allowance of N5.87 million, distributed once every four years.
A detailed analysis of the figures indicates that each minister is set to receive a total of N7.7 million annually, while each minister of state is set to receive N7.45 million annually.
Over four years, each minister will receive N30.8 million, and each minister of state will receive N29.8 million.
Consequently, the 32 ministers will collectively cost the country approximately N985.6 million, while the 13 ministers of state will amount to about N387.4 million over four years.
This cumulatively implies that the 45 ministers will incur a total expenditure of N1.37 billion over a span of four years.
It is anticipated that this figure will rise further following the approval of the three pending ministerial nominees, amid ongoing calls for reduced governance costs.
An economist, Prof Akpakpan Edet, earlier voiced concerns, stating that the escalation in the number of ministers was unnecessary and would contribute to an increase in governance costs.
He said, “What they have done is dangerous. For a long time, we have been complaining about the cost of governance. We looked at the number of institutions that they had and then said the government should reduce them. And they did, but there were so many overlaps. To now talk of 48 ministers doesn’t make sense.
“The implication is that they will further increase the cost of governance. At this level of our democracy, we don’t need this number of ministers; you can merge the ministries and still get the functions delivered. We need a leaner but very effective government.”
An economist, Deborah Oluwagbenga, also said that Nigeria was not in a financial state to employ the services of many ministers.
She stated, “Let’s not forget that this country is in huge debt and the best way to go is to reduce the cost of governance. If the President is appointing this huge number of aides, he’s already laying a foundation for governors to do the same.
“This is not developmental and can crush the economy of the country. What we should be looking at this time is to ensure that we reduce our expenses and try to make good use of what we have in areas that need adjustments. We cannot continue like this.”
