Vice President Yemi Osinbajo stated that he is aware that remunerations were generally poor in the country, that of course, includes his own and that of the President. He disclosed that he and President Muhammadu Buhari are poorly paid for their services to the nation.
He revealed that while he earns about N1.5m as the Vice President, the President, President Muhammadu Buhari earns about N1.75 million, an amount he believes does not commensurate with the offices they occupy.
This he stated, at the end of year seminar held at the State House Press Corps at the old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
He had previously mentioned at the presentation of the book ‘Making Steady, Sustainable Progress for Nigeria’s Peace and Prosperity—A mid-term Scorecard on the President Muhammadu Buhari Administration’ that the frugality of the President is the motive behind his choice to receive only half of his salary, founded on the President’s decision to do same. Buhari’s argument had been since the government was taking care of virtually everything he needed, there was no reason to collect the amount he was entitled to as President, as reported in The Nation.
The Vice President also offered his misgivings about the remuneration of journalists and lawyers, stating that journalist’s case is however unique because the media owners make big revenue but simply, refuse to pay good wages. This he claimed was from his experience while working at media houses as the legal adviser, as the various media houses refused to pay him his wages despite the irregular hours he had put in.
He also spoke about the fact that the entry into journalism was not regulated or enforced by professional bodies as untrained people are allowed in.
