By TINA TIMOTHY

The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) has described as ‘shameful' a presidential aspirant sharing $25,000 or N15m per delegate to bribe delegates into voting him as a presidential candidate. The group noted that amount ‘is a three years full remuneration’ of a Nigerian University professor.

Intersociety in a press statement issued in Onitsha, Eastern Nigeria on Wednesday, June 8, 2022 and signed by its Principal Officers; Board Chair, Emeka Umeagbalasi (Criminologist); Head, Democracy and Good Governance, Chinwe Umeche Esquire; Head, Civil Liberties and Rule of Law, Obianuju Joy Igboeli Esquire and Head, Campaign and Publicity, Chidimma Udegbunam Esquire decried the ‘ongoing protracted university teachers’ industrial action against the Federal Government of Nigeria’ occasioned by ‘unpaid earned allowances’ which commenced since early February 2022 and which has consequently kept students out of school and exposed to several crimes and vices, while intending leaders are ‘busy sharing millions of naira per delegate at their parties’ convention to pick their Party’s presidential flag bearer.’

The statement partly reads: “The monthly remuneration (basic salary and allowances) of a Professor of Nigerian University presently stands at N416, 000 or N15m for three years. Among the reasons for the ongoing protracted university teachers’ industrial action against the Federal Government of Nigeria since early Feb 2022; fourth of its kind since the inception of the present central Government of Nigeria in late May 2015 are non implementation of the Consolidated University Academic Salary Structure 11, unpaid earned allowances involving N25,000 for a professor and N20,000 for a senior lecturer per annum/per student in matters relating to postgraduate supervision and others are the teaching practice/industrial supervision/field trip allowances and honoria for external/internal examiner (for postgraduate thesis and undergraduate and postgraduate examinations), among others.

“The above highlighted unpaid pittances are one of the key reasons why the present central Government of Nigeria allowed the country’s universities to be shut for over four months; thereby exposing students to armed robbery, advance fee fraud and other cyber crimes; kidnapping for ransom, prostitution and other immoral acts; cultism, ritualism and killings as well as other crimes against persons and properties. Shockingly, while the above social tragedies are on riotous loose on the country and its citizenry, some of those aspiring to be next leaders of Nigeria in 2023; among them are former governors and ministers or present State or Federal public office holders are busy sharing millions of naira per delegate at their parties’ convention to pick their Party’s presidential flag bearer. This is to the extent that one of them was caught by proxy shamelessly sharing $25,000 or N15m per delegate to bribe the delegates into voting him as a presidential candidate, which is a three years full remuneration of a professor.”