Buhari Ministers: We Are Ready To Work For Free

After President Muhammadu Buhari said last Friday
that Nigeria is broke and he might not be able to pay
ministers, some minister-designates have said they are
ready to work for free.
Adebayo Shittu and Professor Isaac Adewole were among
those who announced this. The ministers, who along with
their colleagues are expected to be sworn in and given
portfolios any moment from now, described their
appointment as a call to service.
Shittu, representing Oyo state at the yet-to-be-constituted
Federal Executive Council, said he was ready to give his
services for free to Nigeria if that was what the situation
demanded.
According to Shittu, who is also a legal practitioner and
human rights activist, what matters is the intention to serve
and not the financial benefits.
“It is an issue of national service. There is nothing too much to
sacrifice. If that is what our situation in Nigeria demands, then
we must put ourselves up selflessly. We cannot say because of
selfishness, we cannot work selflessly,” he said.
“With my background as somebody from a very humble family, I
know what poverty is and I have been experiencing it. I have
been dogged in conforming to the dictates of politics and
poverty. There is nothing too much to sacrifice for the service of
our people,” he added.
Adewole, a former vice chancellor of the University of
Ibadan, in a statement signed by his media aide Sunday
Saanu, said he was ready to serve the nation without pay.
Saanu who is to represent Osun state said: “It is a great
honour to serve one’s fatherland and I can tell you Prof.
Adewole is ready to serve Nigeria without collecting
salaries. Everything is not about money. It is a privilege and a
great honour to serve. This is what he was doing at his former
school. He was paying some teachers employed to complement
government’s efforts.
“He is not driven by money but passion to make positive impact
in the nation in whatever capacity.”
The former governor of Rivers state, Rotimi Amaechi, also
said he did not accept to be a minister for personal and
pecuniary gains.
According to Amaechi’s former aide, Ibim Semenitari, he is
interested in the development of Nigeria. “If he (President
Buhari) has not said that he would not pay ministers, the
question of whether he (Amaechi) will work for free should not
be necessary. We know that we are currently dealing with hard
times. For us as a country, we will manage our cost,” Ibim
Semenitari said.
“He (Amaechi) has never run for anything because he is looking
for money. His interest is in the development of Nigeria,” the
former aide added.