Anger As Nigerians React To Bashir Ahmad, Buhari’s Aide’s Illegal Salary

Anger As Nigerians React To Bashir Ahmad, Buhari’s Aide’s Illegal Salary

Nigerians have started reacting to the revelation that the Special Adviser to President Muhammad Buhari on New Media, Bashir Ahmad was drawing salaries from the federal government, even after he resigned to contest for political office.

Although, Mr Ahmad’s take-home was N876,738.37 after statutory deductions, it did not include a miscellany of other allowances and federal estacodes attached to presidential aides.

The issue got prominence, not just because of the illegality that is attached, because the laws of the country clearly stated that anyone that is interested in vying for political office must resign his post before officially taking such step.

Article 31 (1) (iii) of the APC Constitution (October 2014 As Amended), states that: “Any Party office holder interested in contesting for an elective office (whether party office or office in a general election) shall resign and leave office 30 days prior to the date of nomination or party primary for the office he or she is seeking to contest.”

It is noteworthy that with the resignation of Ahmad, his salaries and other allowances should have naturally ceased, but the opposite was the case, as he continued to draw salaries after his resignation until he was reinstated on the 14th of August by the President.

On Twitter, F.I Giwa says “APC led FG were able to track and arrested those that donated money for #EndSARS protest but IPPIS couldn’t track Bashir Ahmad that resigned and kept receiving salaries. In a sane clime, is Ahmad not supposed to be arrested for not returning that whopping amount without work.”

Jake @Hitee tweeted “A senior lecturer earns 220k monthly( after 10 years in service ) , Bashir Ahmad earns 860k monthly net. This is where the problem is actually.”

Bolu @Bojworks says “Even with a 20% salary increase, Bashir Ahmad still earns more than the Inspector General of Police who got there after nearly 25years in the Force. And you say you want a Police Force that is corruption free.”

As at the time of going to Press, the Presidency has not not reacted to the allegations while the anti-corruption agencies have not also issued any reaction.