I Receive N25,000 For Local Trips, Fuel My Personal Cars – Sanusi

Lamido-SanusiThe Central Bank of Nigeria has said that its Governor, Mr. Lamido Sanusi, is only entitled to N25,000 per night for his local trips.

The bank stated this in response to a letter by civil rights lawyer, Mr. Bamidele Aturu who requested Sanusi to disclose, among others, his total monthly remuneration and other entitlements.

Though Aturu commended Sanusi for not ignoring his request as many Nigerian public officers would have done, he was however quick to add that he was “not  completely satisfied with” the response and would give time for the CBN to add up its figures and come up with specific answers.

Information Nigeria recalls that Aturu, through a letter dated December 31, 2012, requested for the information on the back of the Freedom of Information Act.

The legal practitioner had also sought to know Sanusi’s monthly impress and the cost of his trips within and outside the country.

However, the CBN,  in its reply  to Aturu’s request, through a letter dated January 16, 2013, by the apex bank’s Director/Legal Adviser,  Legal Services Department, S.M Onekutu, cited a pending case  as the reason for declining to release the details of Sanusi’s total remuneration.

“The governor is entitled to N25,000 per night as incidental allowance  on his local trips,” Onekutu said, responding to part of Aturu’s questions.

On why the cost of Sanusi’s  trips abroad, could not be disclosed, Onekutu merely said, “The governor’s  entitlement is as approved by the Federal Government”. This particular response did not go down well with Aturu who said: “it is a little troubling that while the Bank was willing to state the local daily allowance it refused to state what the Governor earns when he travels outside the country, saying that he receives what the Federal Government approves. We expect him to give a specific figure. The N25,000 he takes locally was also approved by the Federal Government. So why disclose one and not the other” he queried

On Sanusi’s total remuneration, the letter read in part, “The governor’s remuneration is as stipulated by the Board and approved by Mr. President in accordance with Section 8(3) of the CBN Act.

“Besides, the governor’s emolument, and indeed, the emolument structure of the CBN is benchmarked against the Banking industry as approved in the Federal Government’s White Paper on the Presidential Committee on Consolidation of Emoluments in the Public Service.

“However, we are unable to release the details at the governor’s salary and allowances as that information is already subject of litigation in Suit No FHC/L/CS/016/2011: Uzoegwu F.O .C Vs  CBN & HAGF. The matter is an appeal and it will be prejudice to comment on it.”

The CBN further said its boss occasionally used chartered planes to travel within the country “as dictated by exigencies” but said time was too short to release detailed information on it.

1 COMMENT

  1. Mr sanusi, you call 25000 Naira for a night only? My total monthly earning is just 13000 naira and iam a degree holder in the same country as you, possibly buying from the same market as you and also living in Abuja. This 25000 naira is not your basic salary yet oooo. Your 1 night allowance is far more than the country’s minimum wage of 18000 naira. Hmmm, E go better.