{"id":73512,"date":"2020-05-17T20:06:14","date_gmt":"2020-05-17T19:06:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/?p=73512"},"modified":"2020-05-17T20:06:14","modified_gmt":"2020-05-17T19:06:14","slug":"serap-to-buhari-copy-namibia-example-ban-car-perks-for-presidency-ministers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/news\/serap-to-buhari-copy-namibia-example-ban-car-perks-for-presidency-ministers\/","title":{"rendered":"SERAP to Buhari: Copy ‘Namibia example’, ban car perks for Presidency, ministers"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sent an<\/div>\n
\n
open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari urging him to use his
\n“leadership position to follow the ‘Namibia example’ by urgently issuing
\nan executive order to ban the purchase of new cars by the presidency,
\nand all ministers for the remainder of the tenure of your
\nadministration, that is, until May 2023.”<\/p>\n

SERAP urged him to “use the savings from this ban to support students of
\ntertiary institutions across the country to reduce the impact of
\nCOVID-19 and the lockdown on them and their parents, and to improve
\naccess to healthcare for all Nigerians. We also urge you to encourage
\nthe National Assembly and governors to ban the purchase of new cars and
\nto use the savings to pay workers’ salaries and pensioners’
\nentitlements.”<\/p>\n

Namibia’s president Hage Geingobon had last week reportedly imposed a
\nfive-year ban on buying of new cars for top politicians and government
\nofficials in order to redirect the funds to fight COVID-19 in his
\ncountry.<\/p>\n

In the letter dated 16 May 2020, and signed by SERAP deputy director
\nKolawole Oluwadare, the organization said: “The COVID-19 pandemic has
\nreinforced the urgent need for high-ranking public officials and
\npoliticians to demonstrate the constitutional oaths of absolute loyalty
\nto the public interest and the common good. As trustees of Nigerians’
\npublic funds, your government, the National Assembly and governors are
\naccountable to the public for the use of those funds.”<\/p>\n

SERAP said: “The expenditure of public funds requires the highest degree
\nof public trust. It is the constitutional duty of every public official
\nto protect and preserve the public interest in public spending.”<\/p>\n

According to SERAP: “Imposing a ban on new cars by the presidency,
\nministers and encouraging the National Assembly and governors to do the
\nsame would serve the public interest, and contribute to cutting the cost
\nof governance.”<\/p>\n

The letter read, in part: “The constitutional oaths of office by public
\nofficials include the responsibility to prioritise the well-being of
\nNigerians.<\/p>\n

“Copying the Namibia example will also show that public funds will be
\nspent for the benefit of the people, and not as a prerogative for the
\nadvantage of the government or the benefit of public officials.”<\/p>\n

“SERAP also urges you to consider banning spending on generators in the
\npresidency, and cutting spending on items like furniture and fittings,
\nrefreshments, catering services and purchase of kitchen and household
\nequipment.”<\/p>\n

“As the government prepares to finalise the proposed amendment to the
\n2020 budget, we urge you to immediately impose ban on the purchase of
\nnew cars by the presidency, and to encourage the National Assembly and
\nthe 36 state governors to do the same, and to ensure that public funds
\nare used for the benefit of the public.”<\/p>\n

“SERAP remains concerned that several state governments are failing to
\npay workers’ salaries, and that the Federal Government is failing to pay
\npensioners’ entitlements.”<\/p>\n

“This is a clear violation of the right to work recognized under article
\n6 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,
\nto which Nigeria is a state party. The right to work is essential for
\nrealizing other human rights and forms an inseparable and inherent part
\nof human dignity.”<\/p>\n

“According to reports, Namibia’s president Hage Geingobon on Thursday
\nimposed a five-year ban on buying new cars for top politicians and
\ngovernment officials from buying new cars in order to redirect the funds
\nto fight COVID-19 in his country.”<\/p>\n

“This presidential directive is expected to save the country some 200
\nmillion Namibian dollars (US$10.7 million), which would then be directed
\nto “to urgent priorities, specifically at a time when the country is
\ndealing with the health and economic implications of COVID-19.”<\/p>\n

“We hope that the aspects highlighted will help guide your actions in
\nacting to ensure and promote the public interest and the common good in
\npublic spending.”<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sent an open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari urging him to use his “leadership position to follow the ‘Namibia example’ by urgently issuing…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":56720,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-73512","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\nSERAP to Buhari: Copy 'Namibia example', ban car perks for Presidency, ministers - Pointblank News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/news\/serap-to-buhari-copy-namibia-example-ban-car-perks-for-presidency-ministers\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"SERAP to Buhari: Copy 'Namibia example', ban car perks for Presidency, ministers - 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