The Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi on Tuesday, said that he earns “only N950,000” a month out of which he also paid his aides.
Amaechi who made the remark as the chairman of the event at the post-humous launching of the autobiography of a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Mathew Mbu titled; “Dignity In Service,” noted that it was not true that only past leaders were honest.
The former Rivers State governor while extolling the virtues of the late Mbu, said he would continue to promote transparency.
He also told the gathering that President Muhammadu Buhari’s government had helped to stop the culture of waste such that private citizens no longer throw lavish parties.
He said, “A minister earns only N950, 000 a month. Out of this money, N350, 000 is for accommodation so there is no more money given to you. The remaining N600, 000 includes payment for your staff, personal assistants and all that.”
“Nigerians like going to parties. That is one benefit of this government. We now assess our wealth and value money. Before, once you get money from the illegal means, we hold parties. There are very few parties these days because there is no more money to hold such parties”.
“There is no ‘owambe’ anymore because there is very little money to hold ‘owambe.’ The reason is that the ‘owambe’ money used to come from the government and there is no money in the government to do such.”
Also speaking at the event, a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Ignatius Olisemeka described the late M T Mbu as a pacesetter and a hero.
He said: “I met him in London but I wouldn’t want to dwell on his personality but I will like to call attention to the issues Mbu represented as a man.
