 The food bill of President Mohammad Buhari and Vice President Yami Oshibajo has doubled the mis-rising the crisis. And Turkey President Erdogan Tayyip says terrorists who tried to overthrow him are in Nigeria. This is plus politics, I am just in academia. The Nigerian taxpayers will have to pay twice as much to feed the president that's President Mohammad Buhari and Vice President Professor Yami Oshibajo in 2022. As food prices continue to rise, the breakdown of the proposed 2022 budget shows that Buhari and Oshibajo's offices will spend 457 million Naira on food that is more than twice that was allocated for food last year or this year and the previous years. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, food inflation reached its highest level in 12 years in March, while the rises slowed in the last six months. Food inflation remained significantly high at 16.63% and 19.57% respectively in September. For 2022, the president's office will spend 301 million Naira on foodstuff and catering materials supplies or the vice president's bill was put at 156 million Naira. Joining us to discuss is Ace Atunji Abdulhamid, Aurelio Practitioner and Wallahaul, Olajedeh and Iqatmist. Many thanks for joining us, gentlemen, good evening, and thanks for joining us on the show this evening. Of course, to you, Wallahaul, joining us via Zoom. Thank you very much. Nice to meet you. Nice to meet you. Let me start with you, you have heard the breakdown of what we Nigerians are supposed to be paying for the president and the vice president's bill of food for bill of next year. It is as high as the president spending 301 million on foodstuff and catering materials while that of the president is put at 156 million Naira. Just looking at it on the surface morally, what hits you judging by the fact that the average Nigerian is actually biting under the groves of poverty. Now, what you say is unfortunate that our system is such that it only gives an opportunity to those in government. Now, those in government are supposed to be the servants of the people, where in Nigeria is the vice president's case. Those in government are now the ones who are supposed to be served by the people. You see, and it's unfortunate that look, the government will continue to say the masses should tighten their bets because of the scarcity of this and that. The same government is not tightening their bets. They are increasing or doping their expenses and complaining about lack of a fund. You know, and that's why I always argue with people that say Nigeria is not a rich country or whatever. We have, we don't manage what we lack is a management of our resources. It's unfortunate that such amount of money is being marked for the price. I imagine what they will be eating, particularly at that age of our presidents. And probably that expenses covers the standard family as well. Those who are not even living the, sort of, which is going to be a fortune, you see? It's not palatable to hear that. That such amount of money is being budgeted for the presidency in terms of food. All right, let's go to Guelahua. You are an economist authorizing prices of our foodstuff every day in the market. You know, what hits you really when we talk about spending as much as 301 million on foodstuff and catering judging by the fact that average Nigerian belly lives below $1 per day? If food costs are increased for the average Nigeria, it is expected that it will also have increased even for the president and the vice president as well. Because the market is the same. Whether the local market or for the imported goods, all prices point up and it will also have gone up for the president and vice president as well. However, under our peculiar circumstances, I think what might be ideal is for us to leave aside those budget numbers and do what you call a zero-based budget for those items. Zero-based means you're not just saying, oh, because food items have increased, therefore let me just increase the amount we spent last year. Rather, what you do is that you actually build that cost from the zero-page, from the scratch and say, okay, on the average, this is the number of people that the president or the vice president post in a day. These are the number of international visitors that come in a year. And then what does it take to feed all these people? You can be sure that these old men themselves, the president is about 78, Mr. Shibaido is at 60, but how much food can they eat as an individual? So you can be sure that this is not about their coming. But all the same, we don't need to be... I still want us to talk more concerning on what ideology or what basis that particular amount was put forth. You have said about prices of food generally in Nigeria has actually doubled and maybe that might be one of the reasons why that of the president and the vice president have also been doubled. But then again, the average Nigerians, their salaries have not actually increased over time. They are still growing under the biting effect of inflation. Don't you think that we should not be talking about doubling the budget for their food items rather we should look inwards and tackle how we can actually ensure that we have adequate food for residents and of course Nigerians generally? You know, yes, some of what you said, so I'm actually on level to... Okay, let me repeat what I said. Askelhoff thought believes that the presidents and the vice presidents in the budget for feeding doubled because of the horizon costs of food items in the country. But another school... I don't know if your problem has persisted as well and not here in the world. I will try and reconnect with you at Gologhan and I'll try and raise that question again. But let me speak to Tunji Abdulhamid and let us try and get more reactions concerning all of these issues right now. At a time when everyone is talking about reducing the cost of ungovernment and the paraphernalia of government and we have rising costs in items, just food items specifically here. It has been said that refreshments and meals would take about 50.9 million for the two highest offices a total of 30.6 million for the president and 20 million slated for the vice president. Shouldn't we really be looking at reducing the cost of governance right now instead of looking at how we can double these bills for the presidency, just for feeding? We should be looking at reducing the cost of governance because the government have already been saying that look, we don't have money and they will also be appealing to people to reduce their expenses but they are not reducing their own expenses and that's why people are worried that look, when you say I should do this, you are not doing the same thing. When you are complaining about lack of finance, you are doubling your own expenses and to me I don't even think we should be feeding the president or the vice-president or any government. So who should be doing that? Because they are collecting salary, they are not doing a free job. The allowance may be too low or whatever, they sign for it. So invariably they should be... They are paying for their own salaries or their own movements. So they should be what other people are feeling. If you are the president or whatever and they say there is an increment in cost of food, you now double your budget for that purpose. Would the salary of the other workers be doubled because there is an increment in... Is that international best practice? I think I am aware that Obama, at the time that he said he was paying for his own things outside whenever he wants to do things and not to think the confines of his personating. Even feeding that he pays for his pockets. And if he is paying, he is a member of his family, maybe he wants to give anybody any money or whatever, it will come from his pocket, not government cover. But that's how we see Nigeria. In Nigeria, once you are the president or the governor or you are in authority, all your expenses will be government money. So I think we are not helping ourselves. As far as the government is preaching, we should maintain the decorum in terms of spending and whatever. And it's not... If you look at the consistently the last four years or so, it has been one or something million or three years for the president, the food alone. Combined with the president, almost one million for two of them every year. That has been what are they eating? What is the level? I am not surprised anyway because we have been told every year that the cutleries being used at the Asorok cost 100 million Naira every month, every year. So I don't know what to do with the cutleries after a year. Are they bought locally or are they actually imported? I don't know how it comes, but in the budget, they always are marked 100 million Naira as cutlery budget for cutleries. Fresh every year. I don't know what to do with the one they used last year, maybe they throw it away every year or every time. So I think it's not a good example from the president because if everybody wants to agitate and say, there is an increase in what is called cost of food, then therefore we need to increase as early as we can. Alright, let's start trying to reconnect. We are talking about the rising cost of food items in Nigeria. And the school of thought is saying that this particular amount that we have right now for the president and the vice president may have been predicated on the fact that food prices have doubled. Indeed Nigerians have not actually gotten increases in their salaries over time. But then again, what would you recommend? Because one would have thought that we should be looking at ensuring that there is food security in the country and that the average Nigerian goes to the market in as much as he ends just little, that he should be able to afford as much to take care of his immediate family. Balor, can you hear us? We perfectly agree with you. That is the direction we need to go. Food security is very important. And this year has been particularly challenging, I believe, and security has taken certain steps in ensuring that the average Nigerian will be considered as to how much we can ask people when they are collecting money and not going to spend to provide the necessary food to be served. Alright, Balor, let's stay on the rising cost of food items for 1 beta. And the president broadcast on October 1st that on Independence Day, he actually attributed the rise to the issues of middlemen and all of that. But would you really agree that we have a problem and we are where we are right now because of maybe some unscrupulous activities of the middlemen according to the president, as he said on Independence Day? Alright, thank you. Let's still talk about a point that you raised earlier and you talked about the president or the presidency. That's the president and, of course, the vice president's paying for Jerome Melza. Still taking it one step further. Don't you think that it goes beyond just paying for what they get to eat on a daily basis? Looking at how much we budget daily for those who are the hems of affairs, it actually takes so much. And, of course, it's the average Nigerian who actually pays for all of this through taxes and, of course, other income that the federal government makes in the fiscal year. Just what would you recommend, just aside from the expenses on food, what aspect should we also be looking at in terms of they paying their own bills and, of course, invariably get into the fact that the cost of governance is actually reduced in this country? The truth is that we are wasteful in this country in terms of maintaining the political class. Political class are the ones benefiting so much from our resources. They give themselves a huge amount of money to look at the National Assembly. People have always been focusing on the National Assembly. As far as I'm concerned, the National Assembly is not taking, because people complete that National Assembly is the one that is taking a huge stock of our money. No, I disagree. The entire budget of the National Assembly is about 120 billion or so, out of trillions, 16 or so trillion. So how could they be the one? But generally, whether the National Assembly, the Presidency, the Ministers, the all executive positions, when you talk about reducing costs, that's where we should start from. We need to reduce all the expenses. The President, whenever he goes out from Abuja inside his asshole rock to even Matamah or whatever, there's another one for inconvenience and all that. And if you want to maintain, if you want to ensure that, look, things are done the way, things are proper in this country. We need to cut all these unnecessary costs. This is if you want to serve yourself. If you want to do a business, apply for it and say, look, I want to, let's engage. How much is a salary? If I want to do, I will do, but I don't want to do that. So they now see that position as a place to maintain their standard, their life and to enjoy themselves. So that's why they give themselves which amount of money. And unfortunately, we don't ask, we don't ask questions. We don't even do anything. We just take it as it is. And then we say, should the President not eat? But people tell you that what it is, it shows the President is not eating. What about the average Niger? Shouldn't the average Niger eat as well? No, I'm telling you what the average Niger would say. Those who are in love with those in government or those who are supporting them because of their party, they will tell you, so you want the President not to eat. You want the President to not to maintain his family, extended family and other families, or other people that are coming to him. You want him to live like you. Because he is not, you know, that kind of attitude. We're not changing anything. So we need to also put, all of us need to put our hands on deck. We need to put pressure on them. Ask them questions. I expect Labour to also say, look, there's a food inflation in the country and we need to increase our salary. When it's raised that one, the government will tell you there's no money. There's no money, but they have a way of getting money to maintain their own life. So it's not fair. We are running a government for the few people, those in government and for those in government. And that's not democracy. Democracy is a government of the people, by the people and for the people. Government of the few, by the few and for the few. Which is not proper. We are maintaining them with our money and that's all. And that's why we're not having enough to maintain our life. And I will also say that I agree with people that will tell me Nigeria is not a rich country or whatever. We are, to an extent. If you quote our quote, how do you say it? According to your quotes. According to our quotes. So I expect the people to say, look, now that is all we have, the price has gone up. We need to maintain this standard and see and reduce some of the things we are doing before. That's how we need to do. Not to increase the money and say, and leave other people to say, go to her, whatever you want to do, you'll do it. All right, Boho. Looking at our budgeting and process in Nigeria, vis-a-vis how much we actually, you know, stipulate for these expenditure, don't you think that in as much as we are talking of rising costs of, you know, food items and of course, you know, reducing the cost of governance, we should also look inwards because over time, this particular administration has actually talked about promoting and made in Nigerian product and of course goods and all of that. In my opinion, I feel that for the budget to have increased from this amount, you know, from what it was last year, the bulk of the expenditure on feeding, I would say, actually imported, imported into the country. So what should we be doing vis-a-vis ensuring that we can look at them, getting this food items and getting this materials and getting this catering, you know, locally. So in that way, we can actually keep these monies within our country and of course, you know, reduce on capital flight. Boho, are you still with us? Most likely, most likely, someone like your president or the vice president after him, the big guy, I'm not likely continue this if they are used to Nigerian food that is popular still. And they are not about teenagers. Say, you know, this is like, how is this introduced to Nigerian food? I'm not saying that this were a little success. If you're going to host a court, for example, you'll be able to swallow it. You still have to provide a lot of sort of things. Boho, let me just stay with you for one minute and still we are talking about reducing the cost of governance. You know that the 2022 budget is actually predicated hugely on external borrowing. You know, what direction would you point the government in terms of how it should go about its budgeting processes and of course, income generation. So that way, we can actually talk about reducing all the paraphernalia of government. What direction should they actually be going vis-a-vis this rising cost of food items if you were to advise economically? All right, thank you, Boho, for your input. Let's talk to Tunji right now. You have heard Boho and other here stipulated concerning the budget process in Nigeria as we round off on this particular discourse. Now, what should the federal government, of course, the legislature and, of course, the various arms of government be taken away from all of this discussion so that at the end of the day we would have a government that we are proud of and Nigerians can actually, you know, still go to the market and even as much as they don't earn as much as they would have desired, they can still get the basic staples. I think the first thing I would say is that the government should not, from the habit of do as I say, do what I say but don't do what I do. You know, in other words, you ask people to tighten their bed but you are not tightening your bed. They must work on that. We must reduce the cost of governance. The most importantly, why we are having this crisis is insecurity. They need to look for solutions to this insecurity. There is no amount of, there is nothing we can do without security. No, this food insecurity will continue because nobody is in the farm now or majority of them are not able to do what to bring. So even when you talk about having our looker or whatever, we cannot get it because there are no people at the farm to give us the food because they are not allowed to do that. The insecurity is so enormous that even recently, today, we are told that the rain or our train was attacked. Yes, it was. And so, can you imagine, talking about people who are at the farm, you must have security. And then the policy of government in terms of agricultural policies only for those who are close to the government. Most times when they say that there is this program for agriculture or whatever, that has been given out. The rural farmers don't get it. The emergency farmers are the ones that get it. And who are these emergency farmers? Politicians. Once they realize the way government is going, they set up a farm or something in that regard so that they will be able to benefit. And they will benefit. So the reef farmers, those who are really into farming, don't get to see all this benefit they are talking about. We just hit on paper. And then other people will be getting it. So until we ensure that, look, agricultural policies or whatever are made in such a way that the reef farmers get the benefits of whatever policies are going to be. So the issues are not really the policies themselves, it's the implementation of the policies. Yeah, implementation and the policies. Again, we have bad policies as well. Because to me, I will still go back to that area when the government closes the border. We don't have enough food in the country. We are closing the border for the few ones. That is the beginning of our crisis. And the added more to it, security added more to it. So we need to also look at our security architecture. We need to look at our policies in the Greek and other policies with that. And those in government should be ready to sacrifice and then not just say, as the team... Just go and leave service. They will just increase their own. They should also maintain, or even reduce, and say, look, let's go by what we have and see how we can maintain this. That's how to go about it. Alright, thank you so much. I'm Tunji Abdulhamid. I'm legal practitioner for your input concerning this particular discourse. Thank you very much. And of course, I'm a larger there. I'm an economist who joined us, some buyers who do appreciate your time. Alright, thank you for staying with us. We'll take a short break now. And when we return, Turkish President alleges that those who are against his administration are still active in Nigeria to join us again.