Alhaji Tanko Yakassai
In continuation of the call for openness and transparency,
Elder statesman and Chairman of Northern Elders Council (NEC), Alhaji Tanko
Yakassai has challenged President Muhammadu Buhari, state governors and Local
Government Council Chairmen to publicly declare their salaries, allowances and
security votes to establish their commitment to accountability and good
governance.
Yakassai, who was reacting to the controversy between the
Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai and Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Yakubu Lawal Dogara; said there was need for accountability in government.
He said: “I regret that President Buhari did not carry out
his pledge that he would publish the assets he declared. If he had done that it
would have been a morale booster for the governors, members of the National and
State Assemblies and other public office holders to follow suit.”
While contending that that would have established a pattern
of behaviour for every public office holder, the elder statesman recalled that even
though the President and Governor Nasir El-Rufai declared their assets, they
didn’t publish the assets.
“They should make it public; this is what Nigerians are
looking for. To know how much each person has before getting into public
office. The amount the Speaker declared as his salary and allowances has been
made public, with pictures of pay slips. It is now for whoever does not agree
to come out with his own side of the story,” he said.
Yakassai stated: “When Dogara waged his challenge, he didn’t
do it to El-Rufai alone. He said chief executives, and in fact when you are
talking of chief executive officers, I think he is talking of the President,
the governors and local government chairmen. They are the chief executive
officers in this country.
“So the challenge is to all of them, not to one person. And
if one out of 36 attempted to answer to that challenge, what about the
President, the remaining 35 governors and local government chairmen; when are
they going to declare their own?”
To read more,visit www.guardian.ng/news/yakassai-challenges-president-buhari-governors-to-make-salaries-assets-public/
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