Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has asserted that many politicians in Nigeria do not serve in government for financial gain, contrary to popular belief.
During an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily program on Friday, Dogara emphasized that a significant number of government officials would be willing to work without pay if public expectations of them were reduced.
He stated, “If we can cut the demands on some of these government officials by 90 percent, I assure you that there are so many people there who are willing to work free of charge.”
Dogara elaborated on this idea by explaining that the burden placed on these officials often hinders their ability to perform effectively. “You cannot put a lot of burden on my head and knock on my leg, which I am supposed to stand on in order to carry the burden,” he remarked, highlighting the challenges that officials face in fulfilling their responsibilities amid high expectations.
Addressing the current economic hardships and rising hunger in the country, Dogara mentioned that President Bola Tinubu has acknowledged these pressing issues during a recent discussion with former national assembly leaders at the presidential residence in Aso Rock.
According to Dogara, President Tinubu assured them that he is actively working to address the hunger and economic difficulties affecting many Nigerians.
Turning to the contentious issue of the removal of the petrol subsidy, which has faced significant criticism for exacerbating inflation and driving up the prices of essential commodities, Dogara defended President Tinubu against claims of responsibility for this situation.
He argued that the president should not be blamed for the removal of the subsidy since it was not included in the national budget prior to his election.
He stated, “We must accept, whether we like it or not, except we are disingenuous, that the removal of subsidy itself—whether the president said that subsidy was gone or that he was removing subsidy—we all know that the subsidy had been removed before he was elected.” Dogara further explained the legal implications, noting that if there is no provision for the subsidy in the budget, it would be illegal for the executive branch to allocate funds for it.
“They can only appropriate money in consequence of an express legislative authorization, which is the budget. And in this case, there was no provision in the budget,” he added.
Ultimately, Dogara emphasized that the most crucial aspect of the current situation is that President Tinubu has recognized the challenges he faces. He concluded by stating that acknowledging responsibility for a problem is an essential first step toward finding effective solutions.
