*’Constitution Is Clear: NASS Members Can’t Fix Own Salaries, Emoluments, Only Revenue Mobilization Commission Can’
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has questioned the right of the President Bola Tinubu administration to continue in office, saying it has failed to protect lives and properties of Nigerians amid the roiling insecurity in the land.
Concerns have been raised both locally and internationally over the killings, maimings, frequent kidnappings and displacement of massive numbers of people by terrorists and other armed non-state actors across the country over the years with President Donald Trump and US lawmakers condemning what they saw as Federal Government’s little response to the situation to protect the lives and properties of Nigerians.
Trump returned Nigeria to the ignoble status of a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) over what he said has been an untamed genocide against Christians.
Over the years too, the US had been compelled to issue restrictive travel advisories to its citizens residing in Nigeria in view of the heightening insecurity in the country.
Speaking in an interview with News Central, Obasanjo said any government that cannot protect lives and property of its citizens does not have the right to exist.
Answering a question, Obasanjo said: “Let me tell you, the government that cannot give security of life and property of its citizen has no right of existence.”
He took the position on the matter about nine months to the 2027 general elections.
The former President also weighed in on the vexed question of the salaries of members of the National Assembly.
“The elected members of our National Assembly have no right to fix their own salary and their own emolument.
“It’s not in our Constitution for them to do that. It’s the Revenue Mobilization and Allocation Commission that should do it,” he explained.
His perspective on the matter has raised fresh questions on whether the lawmakers should be compelled to refund the hefty sums already paid to themselves, the ones they are presently enjoying, or imposition of any other sanctions to retrieve such public funds from them.
*PHOTO CAPTION:Ex-President Obasanjo.
