Mixed reactions greeted President Goodluck Jonathan’s introduction of cost-cutting measures in his administration, including the reduction of the salaries of political office holders by 25 per cent.
President Jonathan stated in an address to the nation on Jan. 7 that for the year 2012, the basic salaries of all political office holders in the Executive arm of government would be reduced by 25 per cent.
Prof. Lai Olorode, the National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) commended the president on his proposal to reduce the effect of the subsidy removal on Nigerians.
He said: “I have seen signs and a good overture by the president over the salary cut of his executive staff which I think is a welcome development.
“If this had come before the fuel subsidy removal, there would have been a kind of silver lining at the end of the tunnel for the masses.
“I think the masses would have embraced the whole idea of fuel subsidy if the cut came before the subsidy removal.”
Mr Sam Onimisi, the National Secretary of Democratic Peoples Alliance (DPA), also commended the President’s initiative, saying it was a good beginning.
“Jonathan is talking the right talk now.
“Cutting the salaries of the federal executive members and political office holders is a good beginning which shows that there is going to be self discipline among the leadership.”
Onimisi also commended Jonathan for cutting the size of delegations travelling abroad with the attendant extacode.
“Cutting the entourage that goes abroad with a lot of extacode is another good step that he has taken.
“This shows really that, perhaps, his administration is really determined to do something different this time around.”
However, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, the National Chairman of the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) and a former Governor of Kaduna State, said what Jonathan had done would not amount to anything.
“What he has done will not amount to anything.
“For Nigerians to have confident in him is to reverse all the policies, restore subsidy and go on to negotiation.
“We have reached a stage that only negotiation can provide foundation for confidence and foundation for beginning to do anything.”
Mr Wilson Odum-Ojobi, the Deputy National Chairman, United Nigeria Peoples Party (UNPP), advised the government to increase the taxes of corporate bodies instead of removing fuel subsidy.
He said: “government should increase the taxes of corporate bodies like Shell as it is done in most civilised countries like America and England.”
The UNPP boss said the electoral promises of President Barack Obama of America were fewer taxes for income earners and more taxes for corporate bodies “and we can do the same to boost our economy.''