“As A Minister, My Salary, Allowance Was 900,000”

• Huge financial demands make public office holders steal

Former minister of agriculture, Audu Ogbeh, says the financial demands that’s put on public office holders distract.

The minister said he earned N900,000 as salary while in office, noting that the reason most public office holders engage in corrupt practices is because of the pressure to met the high financial demands of their people.

Ogbeh disclosed this in an interview with The Punch, adding that some people wanted him to give them N5 million every week while he earned 900,000.

The former minister said political leaders face so much pressure and financial demands from their constituents that they do not have time to analyse policies.

“When they bring out a policy, analyse it quickly and if you don’t know, get experts to tell you the consequences and raise an objection; but we don’t do it. We are too busy and happy with the offices we hold,” Ogbeh said.

“We come under too much pressure once you climb out from the poverty of your environment. Everybody wants you to give them financial help, to bury their dead, pay school fees and rent as well as give them cash.

“How much do you earn? If you must satisfy them, you must be a thief. There is no pretence about it. As a minister, my salary, rent, housing allowance and everything was N900,000 a month. The party took N100,000. I had N800,000 left but I would be in the office and there would be 50 people waiting to see me. Some requests N2 million, N5 million, N200,000 each week on my visiting day.

“Now, if you don’t give them, you are described as a very stingy and useless man who has got there and doesn’t want to help people. If you must give, you have to take it from illegal sources. That is the plain truth. And because the north has this affliction of poverty, this is the problem of northern leaders, the pressure they face is out of this world.”