President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday disclosed that he almost took to his heels after winning the March 2015 presidential election and encountering an empty treasury, a situation where 27 out of the 36 states of the federation could not pay salaries.
He said it was difficult to comprehend why amid the unprecedented revenue realised while crude was being pumped at 2.1 million barrel per day and was selling for $100 per barrel, the country was still importing food and petroleum products and did not save.
A visibly angry Buhari made the remarks at a Presidential parley with the Senior Executive Course No. 38 (2016) of National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPPS) Kuru, at the State House, Abuja.
“Actually, I felt like absconding because 27 out of 36 states in Nigeria could not pay salaries and we know they have no other source than to depend on salaries. And I asked any savings? I was told there was no savings, and I asked what have you done on agriculture, power, rails, and roads. Nothing!
“You know more than I do because you move around. I have not been moving around since after elections but you do, how many of the Trunk A roads are still good enough? How much power do we have, although there are some elements of sabotage.
“I was told the money was used to import food and fuel. I didn’t believe the answer and I still don’t believe it. Until now, substantial number of people in the East eat garri and groundnut, in the West pounded yam, cassava and vegetables, in the North is Tuwo, which is made from any of the grains, millet, sorghum. They eat it in the night and warm it in the morning and eat it and take Fura Da Nono in the afternoon. How many of those people can afford foreign food?
“Then they said I should check out the petroleum, the legislature dedicated 445,000 barrels per day for internal consumption and that is just 60 percent of our requirements. I said ok what of the 40 percent? The marketers that are bringing it just present documents, papers are just stamped and monies are taken away. This is the type of things that the Nigerian elites are doing to our own country. When you go back look at your colleagues and encourage them to be truly Nigerians,” he said.
In his remarks, Jonathan Juma, acting DG of NIPSS, said the institute needed more robust budgetary support to operate in its capacity, adding that as an “apex institution” to be at the forefront of relevant researches for national development, it was required to recruit and retain top level academics, very senior technocrats and other experienced specialised experts.
According to Juma, “At the moment, I must confess to you that the national institute is operating below its conceived capacity due to its inability to attract a full complement of requisite staff who would conduct research across broad strategic areas of national life and also impact new knowledge.
“The financial situation of the national institute is precarious. The payments for utility services are in arrears and worse still; we have to live with threats of litigation from numerous creditors.
“Operational vehicles in the institute’s fleet have aged and are a source of constant embarrassment. We have looked inward and appealed to the generosity of individuals and corporate Nigeria for support and we are glad that some have responded positively.
“However, a decisive presidential intervention for a sustainable funding of NIPSS is urgently required.”
