Daily Trust
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has kept mum days after a report emerged that its Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, and four Deputy Governors, Mr Philip Ikeazor, Emem Nnan Usoro, Bala Bello and Muhammad Sani Abdullahi, acquired six ultra-modern armoured SUVs despite the hardship Nigerians are facing.
An online news medium, Daily Nigerian, on August 30, 2024, reported that the governor and deputy governors bought six armoured Lexus LX 600 2023.
Daily Nigerian reported that Cardoso got two for himself while the four deputies received one each despite having SUVs in their convoys.
CISLAC condemns extravagant spending, demands cost of governance reduction
Following the report, the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) condemned the “extravagant spending” by the leadership of the CBN.
Mallam Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, Executive Director of CISLAC/Transparency International Nigeria, who made the condemnation on Sunday in a statement, demanded that the federal and other tiers of government should take urgent measures to reduce the high cost of governance and ensure greater accountability in government operations.
Rafsanjani said: “Additionally, it has been alleged that Mr Cardoso purchased about 20 new Toyota Camry cars at the rate of N85m each for CBN management and board members. Further reports indicate that the governor and his deputies have significantly increased their annual housing allowances to nearly N1bn despite residing in official palatial residences in Maitama, Abuja.”
While expressing concern over the government’s continued extravagant spending amid the country’s economic challenges, he said that such expenditures were irresponsible, particularly when the nation faced severe socio-economic difficulties, including rising poverty, growing insecurity, a failing healthcare system and an underfunded educational sector.
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