Last Wednesday, the Central Bank Governor, Lamido Sanusi, appeared before the Senate to defend his submission that 25 per cent of the overhead in the nation‘s annual budget is spent on the National Assembly. The comments left by readers to PUNCH’s coverage of the controversy show that Sanusi has the support of Nigerians, who agree that the NASS has become a financial burden on the nation’s resources.
Why are we embarrassing our country with this display of illiteracy and raw brutality by those who are supposed to be honourable? Why is the NASS trying to crucify an honest servant of the nation for saying the obvious? Who is in this country that does not know that our NASS is a drain pipe on our national budget? I want to advise Nigerians to utilise this election season and get rid of these touts and liberate this country from their shackles.
—Joeboy
Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has rebranded Nigeria in a most practical manner. His courage and readiness to quit his plum job as CBN governor instead of mortgaging his integrity has proved that we still have iron-willed puritans in Nigeria.
—Dominic D.U.
The bunch of illiterate thieves we have in the National Assembly will ground Nigeria to a halt if nothing is done to stop them now. They are not more than the 150 million of the rest f us. We should rise against them now or never.
—Gabriel Agbo
Sanusi sir, I really must commend your effort and courage to enlighten Nigerians on the cost incurred by the NASS. A professor in some universities earn just N400,000 yet these men who barely finished school earn this much all in the name of law making. I wish to encourage Nigerians to continue fighting this doom that has befallen our economy so that one day a drastic action will be taken by courageous Nigerians like Sanusi.
—Onwuatuelo Marcel
Distinguished thieves, You are burdens to the nation. Thank you.
—Yemmy
They are women and men of questionable characters. Their elections were flawed. They are not as honourable as they profess. They are unnecessary burden on Nigeria. If the legislative arm is abolished nobody will miss it. The arm is useless and extravagant.
Haba! Lawmakers, Niger delta issue hasn‘t generated any serious concern to any of you yet, neither has the epileptic power supply in the nation ever caused any controversy among you but Sanusi‘s proof. Beggars can‘t afford cups of garri neither do they have a place to lay their heads but under the bridge. Please have feelings for us as a people.
—David Opeyemi
Sanusi Lamido is indeed the type we need to spearhead our country‘s development quest. He has shown that he is candid, courageous and an advocate of the masses, irrespective of the consequences. Bravo the honest one. We Nigerians will glue to our TV and radio sets to follow the development.
—Anonymous
Sanusi is our man even if he loses his job.
—Brown Lawrence
I appeal to the legislators to do something drastic about their disproportionate overhead. They should tally their benefits against those obtainable in similar economies or even with those of the most advanced economies. They should consider our national wage average and arrive at what they take home as pay. We are actually under the tyranny of a powerful group, what I term ‘legisgopoly‘- a situation where only a few dictates to the majority what they take as wage.
—Chris Ilogho
The bunch of representatives we have at the two houses are criminals. God will judge them for all the money they have pocketed. No road, no water, no primary health. Corruption everywhere. Where are the people that are supposed to monitor projects all over the country?
—Eleojo Agbo
Thank God for this rare specie in our midst. May God bless you, Sanusi. We have another Nigerian in the person of General Mahammadu Buhari who can get this nation out of the hands of these people feeding on our blood. May God help Sanusi.
—Ozigi
Sanusi is detribalised Nigeria and a great professional to his duty. God will protect him from the hand of the wicked senators.
—Edafe
Sanusi is truly a brave pragmatist that deserves total support of all sensible Nigerians against the thieves and educated illiterates in the NASS. I commend The Punch for publishing the unedited views of the real patriotic Nigerians regarding this fiasco.
—Focados1
Fellow Nigerians, this is the time to talk less and do more. We have to take our destinies in our hands. This lawmakers take over N45m every quarter as constituency allowance but it gets stuck in their accounts. How can we continue like this? Thanks Sanusi, my God will bless you but we must rise and stop this thieves. People should rise. Rise up Nigerians or else we will remain doomed...God forbid
—Yugoo
Those men who retired as top crooks are at it again. The legislators must note that our patience is running out. They must trim their insatiable appetites or Nigerians would do it for them. Enough is enough!
—Ede Moses
I love Sanusi for his courage and boldness. Can we have others like that?
—Chris Escon
The revelation by Sanusi is just at the federal level. How about the states and local governments? We are in for serious trouble. The independence of the NASS does not mean that they should amass wealth to the detriment of the economy. Let there be a review of their allowances downward in relation to the economic realities. The Nigerian Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress, this will be a good fight because if we accept N18,000, then government officials at all levels should also have their remunerations pegged taking economic realities into consideration.
—Oritseweyimi
Imagine the difference between N240m per annum (legislators) and N108k per annum(civil servants). Yet they continue lagging in signing into law the new N18,000 per month minimum wage for civil servants. This group called lawmakers are heartless.
—Victor O.
Mallam Sanusi is just one of the few endangered species in Nigeria. He is a patriot to the core unlike those people that were rigged into the chambers of the National Assembly. We have to recall that one of them once said that the chambers are full of 419ers. God bless Sanusi.
—Ade Adefioye
God will richly bless Sanusi and his generations to come. He knows the plight of the masses, he took it upon himself to be their mouthpiece. He deserves to be the president of our country going by his dauntless passion for this nation.
—Chidi
We need part-time lawmakers henceforth. They should be earning sitting allowance only. All the lawmakers should have their own personal business or career and they should only have specific times they‘ll be meeting every quarter or be invited to the chambers when there is a national emergency issues requiring quick attention. We don‘t need fulltime lawmakers. Many of them do not even attend sessions regularly.
—Toyin Ade
Sanusi, I must commend you first for your astounding presentation bordering on the 25 per cent of the national overhead budget consumed by National Assembly alone. No matter the vendetta between you and the National Assembly, I know that the truth must be out. I still want you to maintain your decorum by touching other areas. Nigerians are waiting and I hope Economic and Financial Crime Commission is warming up because Nigerians cannot sit down and allow things die without taking action.
—Smart Emeofa
Can you imagine them comparing their budget figures with that of CBN who print monies and manages the economy? Indeed our legislators are ignorant. Nobody is fighting them as being alleged. Our economy is in trouble. There is cry for bailout even in the oil sector that sustains our economy. We must all be reasonable as the best way to manage our fragile economy will be to cut down on these unjustifiable excess spending by our legislatures and executives.
—O.A.
Sanusi has merely held up a mirror so that you ‘legislooters’ will see your reflections. If you are not happy with what you are seeing, breaking the mirror will not solve anything, while cutting off his hand will make no difference. Bring down the jumbo package with regards with the economic realities.
—Jami
Majority of the lawmakers are heartless rogues and they achieve their goals through fraudulent means. They are, therefore, ready to loot the treasury. They even compare themselves with lawmakers in the developed countries. What a shame!
—Remi Owolabi
It is time for all of us to wake up and begin to ask relevant questions lest this bunch of thieves called legislators lead us to earthly hell. Sanusi, thanks so much. God knows why he has raised your head up. We all know that you are better than these thieves.
—Tijani
Bravo Saunsi, we love you dearly for exposing the useless legislators in Abuja. They are selfish people. Their salaries and emoluments should be reviewed with immediate effect. We cannot afford the cost as Nation. 99 per cent of Nigerians are behind Sanusi. You are a brave man. Keep it up.
—Akindele
I can now see reasons why there have been several assassinations in the country. They are ready to kill to remain in power. God dey oh!
—Eddy Sunday
Sanusi, I pray that God will continue to grant you the courage. It is my wish to ask you if you have any intention of becoming a politician, because we the citizens are longing for men like you as our leaders. Bravo God‘s sent. It shall be well with you.
—Orji Obinna
Sanusi, you are a wonderful man. They cannot sack you because their days are numbered. They are angry because the election is around the corner. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo raised the alarm on their salaries but they did not respond to his comment because he is their godfather. They are all rogues. None of the legislators can show us their achievements for the past three years and half.
—Semiu
I believe our country has a better future with people like Sanusi. All what we need in Nigeria is faithfulness and righteousness.
—Akinyemi John
While we hail this Sanusi for his patriotism, what do we have to say about the Minister of Finance, Olusegun Aganga that chickened out and denied his own statement?
—Rommel
They are not there to serve but to steal. They were not voted to be there but were selected. They don‘t have us in mind because they are after their bellies. These rogues are committing the worst crimes against humanity. EFCC boss, Farida Waziri once called them house of scandals. Unless that house is dissolved we can never achieve any meaningful progress. Until a bloody revolution is carried out in this nation we can never come out from the wood.
—Ikwuka Tochukwu
Thank you Sanusi. May Allah continue to guide you. Patriotic Nigerians will always be solidly behind you.
—Murtala Danjaji
Sanusi remains people‘s hero for ever. If zoning must stay, it has to go to him. Nigerians are ready for zoning because of Sanusi.
—FP
In the face of threat and intimidation, the CBN governor exudes confidence and integrity, the quality most Nigerians lack.
—Godwin Okwumabua
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriation Mr, Iyiola Omisore you are too sentimental. Your statement that Sanusi should mind his business is not worthy of a Senator. Mallam Sanusi is a Nigerian. He has the right to discuss the National Assembly’s expenditure. Any member that is not pleased with that can resign. Sanusi , please, don‘t resign. We need more good Nigerians like you in position of authority.
—Oke
Kudos to Sanusi for having the guts to stand by the truth, Nigerians are behind you.
—Gyang
I used to dislike the guy but I am really impressed that he has the guts to shame those parasites. Maybe I have to start re-evaluating my opinion of him. A big kudos to him and a big shame on the National Assembly thieves.
—Ugo Benjamin
We still have people who can still tell it as it is. This is the second prominent achievement of Sanusi since he assumed duty as CBN governor. Our lawmakers are guilty before men and God. They should ask God for forgiveness and apologise to Sanusi and Nigerians. We cannot have criminally minded men and women as lawmakers and expect this nation to move forward. Mark and Demeji should resign. Shame to you all!
—J. Amana
Men like Sanusi are rare in Nigeria. I admire his courage. The legislators should seek for education because it appears that they are not properly grounded in accounting or economics. My man Sanusi, please continue the good work you are doing. Even if you are asked to resign today you have achieved so much. Ride on!
—Monday Pius
Bravo, Sanusi. Our lawmakers should be ashamed of themselves. They are there for their pockets and not for the good of Nigerians.
—Michael Friday
God bless Sanusi for this revelation. Our so called lawmakers are in Abuja serving their personal interests. Our legislators are the highest paid in the world and the most annoying aspect of it is that they don‘t even attend meetings. Watch the gallery each time their sittings is beamed on TV and you will notice that not up to 60 per cent of them attend house sessions. If 25 per cent of a country‘s budget is spent on just less than 600 people, what is then left for other Nigerians?
—Eze
A big kudos to you, Sanusi. These people feel they are gods. Instead of reasoning with you, they rather wanted to cow you and you were able to tell them you cannot be cowed. That is exactly what they did sometime ago when they said Prof. Chukwuma Soludo was too independent. Yet, this is a very clean Senate with distinguished senators like Iyiola Omisore.
—Eyibio Okon
Sanusi should not apologise to the National Assembly for any reason if he is sure of what he said. He didn’t mentioin names, he only said 25 per cent of the country‘s budget goes to the National Assembly. So what is the problem? We are proud of him. If Nigeria can have only five people like Sanusi there will be total transformation in our country. We are proud of you, Sanusi.
—James
For these legislators to accept guzzling 3.5 per cent is enough to shoot them at the stake. Senator Ayogu Eze characterises Sanusi‘s disclosure as treason. A guzzling 3.5 per cent of the nation‘s money by 500 kleptomaniacs is worse treason.
—GCB
A nigerian worker or labourer, as I will call him, is demanding for N18,000 and it is taking centuries to implement. Why won‘t that worker turn to politics with bitterness?
—Pato
We all respect you for your courage. The good people of Nigeria are with you. I imagine how some of them manage their homes. Sanusi, we love you.
—Ayotunde B.
God bless you for this simple truth you told Nigerians and the whole world. Do not worry. Nobody can sack you. And if they do it, God will punish them and their families.
—Nelson
When history will be written, some will be remembered as courageous, some as villains and others as cowards. History beckons to us all.
—Seyi
Sanusi is saying what we already know. To this end, I am suggesting that the Nigerian Bar Association and other relevant associations should join Sanusi and fight these kleptomaniacs in our National Assembly.
—Isaac Nsikak
Let the patriotic lawyers and other civil societies in Nigeria take the matter up in the law courts. I expect the National Association of Nigerian Students and labour to match to NASS to protest. But who will bell the cat? It is high time we began to hold our public servants accountable. That‘s democracy. Sidon look doesn‘t reinforce democracy. If we want to save our democracy we must stand up and fight for it.
—Michael Aideloje
Sanusi deserves the commendation of all patriotic Nigerians for saying the truth. I salute the courage, the professionalism and the competence of this man of conscience. Sanusi cannot be intimidated, and Nigeria has cause to thank God for that. When Obasanjo said it, some uneducated folks called him names. Sacking Sanusi will not improve the image of the lawmakers. The solution is to reduce the jumbo pay in the interest of the nation.
—Ogunjinmi Augustine
Sanusi, God will always be behind you and Nigerians are praying for you. We are solidly behind you. Ma beru rara. Don‘t mind them.
—Abiola
Nigeria will never move forward if our leaders continue in the same manner. It is clear to everybody that they take much of our money doing nothing? Sanusi should not fear them. They are just nothing but thieves. Sanusi has won it again just like Chief Gani fawehinmi did in his days on earth. Keep it up Sanusi.
—Boluwaji Sunday
Sanusi is a man of courage and integrity. He has had a good career. They thought they will intimidate him. How encouraging to see that there is still a man like this. Most of us will do anything to keep the position of CBN Governor. But not this man who exposed the decay in the banking system. There is still hope. Fellow Nigerians let us employ the law of attraction and focus on what we want for our country. We are only prisoners to our thoughts
—Ogonnaya
The fear of Sanusi is the beginning of wisdom. May the good Lord continue to be with you, Sanusi, and strengthen you to always fear him and not this bunch of rogues. It is really encouraging that Sanusi can stand up telling these rogues. It is people like him that we want in Nigeria’s political space.
—Alos
In as much as I don’t support kidnapping, I think these lawmakers should be targets for hundreds of millions of naira in ransom after thorough manhandling. Who told them that their body guards cannot be overpowered? With this they will understand that millions of Nigerians are agonising in poverty.
—Jerry
Kudos! Sanusi. With people like you still in Nigeria, there is hope. For many of us here in the United States, regardless of present status, there’s no other place to call home but Nigeria. One day, these lawbreakers will be flushed out. Thanks.
—Segun
I wept in the 2009 because the great Gani Fawehinmi died. But right now, I am joyous because there is another great Gani in the person of Sanusi. Thank you big brother, Sanusi, for defending Nigerians.
—Steve Akagha
Apologise for what? For saying the truth? I know Sanusi cannot be intimidated by the lawbreakers. A cursory look at the composition of the National Assembly will tell you that nothing good can come out of them.
—Olalekan Adeyanju
Once you are determined to serve, you will not be afraid of people that are trying to hinder you from your job. Sanusi is there to serve not to be a figurehead.
—Akanbi
If Adamu Ciroma and his group replaces Atiku Abubakar with Sanusi as the northern consensus candidate, the north will then have a chance of clinching the presidency in 2011. I think majority of Nigerians love Sanusi.
—Babaone
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