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Nigeria’s president will take a 50% salary cut

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Newly elected Nigerian president Muhammadi Buhari (AP)
Newly elected Nigerian president Muhammadi Buhari (AP)

Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari will be paid half the salary that his predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan, received, his office has announced.

Presidential spokesperson Garba Shehu made the surprise announcement on Friday.

“President Muhammadu Buhari will only receive 50% of the salary paid to his predecessor. The president’s decision to take a 50% cut was conveyed to the office of the secretary to the government of the federation yesterday,” said Shehu in an emailed statement.

The 72-year-old’s annual salary will be slashed to about $70 000 (R872 000) a year.

The former dictator – Buhari was the country’s military ruler between 1983 and 1985 – recently made history when his civilian government became the first in Nigeria to receive power from a different political party through a democratic election process.

Buhari, who was sworn in on May 29, has attracted criticism for failing to announce a Cabinet, raising fears that he would not fulfil the promises he made during his presidential campaign trail, which included to fight corruption, deal with militant Islamist group Boko Haram, and invest in education, infrastructure and equipment.

Two weeks ago, it emerged that Buhari would not announce his Cabinet until September – three months into office and nearly six months since his party won Nigeria’s general election.

A number of reasons have been given for the delay. One of them is that he wants to first clean up the graft left by the previous administration.

Buhari’s main challenge is to deal with lethal extremist group Boko Haram, whose killing spree is continuing into his term. He also needs to address the economy, which is contracting due to falling oil prices.

His vice-president, Yemi Osinbajo, will also have his salary slashed by half.

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