BY Etop Ekanem & Akoma Chinweoke
THE Archbishop of Metropolitan See of Lagos, Anthony Cardinal Okogie, has called on the federal government to drastically cut down  the remuneration of political office holders to reflect the current realities.

Okogie, who spoke yesterday in Lagos during a press briefing as part of activities marking his 75th birthday which comes up on Thursday, said unless this was carried out, the incessant agitations for upward review of salary by  Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and other stakeholders would continue unabated.

For states to be able to pay the recently approved minimum wage, the Cardinal advised the “Federal Government to adjust the allocation to states and look into the present take home package of our  political office holders.

“It is very disheartening to note that in a country such as ours , where the average worker is paid less than N20,000, their counterparts in the Senate and House of Representatives are smiling home with over N15 million.

“Political office holders should see their appointments as a call to selfless service to the nation and not for self-enrichment as is currently the case.”

The Cleric took a swipe at the Economic and Economic Crimes Commission, EFCC, saying the anti-graft commission has soft-pedaled in its avowed task of bringing perceived looters of the national treasury to book.

“It is no longer new that some of the erstwhile governors, ministers an other public office holders have been far from honest in their handling of our collective wealth. We, therefore, call on Mrs Farida Waziri to wake up from slumber and bring to book all those found culpable in one way or the other.”

Okogie also called on President Jonathan to, as a matter of urgency, hearken to the wishes of the masses, which he enumerated to include “purposeful leadership that will ensure steady supply of electricity, good road network across the country, functional health facilities, qualitative and affordable educational system, massive job creation and security of lives and property.

“As a step towards this direction, he needs able, patriotic lieutenants as ministers. He must ensure that only men and women of impeccable character form his cabinet.”

On the National Youth Service Corps, Okogie called for a review of  the rationale behind its establishment, saying this has become so in view of “the recent loss of lives by many of the corps members in the course of their service to their fatherland.

While commencing the Federal Government for the concern shown the families of the bereaved, we want to implore it to consider overhauling the NYSC scheme and its operational  mechanism to forestall further recurrence of loss of corps members while in service of their fatherland.”