Nigerian lawmakers are unarmed robbers - Obasanjo
The former president worried about the government paying overhead, allowances, salaries and not much is left for development.
Obasanjo made the call on Thursday August 17 in Ibadan at the public presentation of a book entitled, “I am Kagara: I Weave the Sands of Sahara,’’ written by Mark Nwagwu, a retired professor of molecular biology.
“Ninety per cent of our revenue goes to pay overhead, allowances, salaries and not much is left for development.
“We are not going to develop this way and we will only have ourselves to blame.
“It is even worse with the National Assembly; they are one of the highest paid legislatures in the world.
“We have 75 per cent of our population living in abject poverty, yet these people have refused to cut down their earnings.
“We must speak out to get corrected when we err, the behaviour and character of the National Assembly is one that should be condemned,” he said.
Obasanjo also urged the government to honour the agreement it entered into with the Academic Staff Union of Universities about ending the indefinite strike embarked upon by the union.
“I have seen this in government; maybe it is a lesson government will learn. Government allowed itself to be stampeded into signing agreement without full consultation with those within the government.
“Then, they run into the implementation of that agreement that has been signed; however, an agreement is an agreement and whoever is your agent who signed the agreement on your behalf, you are bound by it,” he said.
“I am Kagara” is built around a female heroine; the book highlights the marked difference a woman can make if given the needed support.
“The greatest support a girl-child could have is that of a strong male who gives her a voice and is not afraid of her,” she said.
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