Should security votes be open to public scrutiny? – Punch Newspapers

• Mr Salman Jawondo (A former Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association, Ilorin branch)

I think it should be made a subject that is open to public scrutiny because this is public money and public money should be accounted for to the last kobo. So, the concept of security vote being kept secret should not be the case. It should be open because a sitting President, vice president, governor and deputy governor receive almost everything free. They are entitled to free food, medicals, and transportation, clothing, and most things you can think of in terms of comfort. So, you begin to ask the question what the security vote is meant for especially when you take into account the fact that you have hundreds of millions being earmarked for that on monthly basis. As long as it is public money, I think, it is part of transparency and accountability that it should be accounted for. I support that it…