Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Ibadan, Most Rev’d. Felix Alaba Job on Thursday made a case for the scrapping of security votes enjoyed by governors and blockage of other sources through which states’ resources are being wasted.

He equally called for the scrapping of the office of the First Lady since it is not recognized by the constitution.

The religious leader, who stated this while exchanging views with journalists at Oluponna in Ayedaade LGA of Osun State, blamed the inability of governors to pay workers in their states for months on the mismanagement of resources by such governors.

According to him, “What is security vote? Security allowance which is not accounted for should be removed. You give money to somebody and the person does not have to give an account of how he spends it. It is absurd. It is a way of institutional icing of corruption.

“If they must have security allowance, they should account for it. This is because there are times there are situations they have to respond to. But they must be made to account for the security votes if they must be given,” he said.

The retired Archbishop claimed that many governors spent state’s resources lavishly during the campaign for the last general elections, adding that this was the reason for the financial crisis in such states.

His words, “I do not believe that there is any state that can’t pay salaries. Mismanagement caused it.

“During campaign they spent so much money, they should bring back the money they stacked abroad or collect the money back from who are holding them. If those with the money are no longer in government, they should be called back to return the money with them.

“I think the National Assembly should enact a law against something like this. The finance minister made it public how much was given to each state. Any governor who refuses to pay workers after three months should be made to account for this”.

While congratulating President Muhammadu Buhari on his inauguration, Job expressed optimism that the President would not let Nigerians down, but called for patience with the new administration. He called on the people to also change, stressing that such is what was required now.

According to him, “It is not only in reducing the salaries of elected officers that can guarantee us good leadership. Clauses which militate against the progress of the people must be removed from our constitution.

“Paying of spouses of elected officials, especially wives of local government chairmen, wives of governors should be stopped. It is the practice in Nigeria that when a local government chairman is elected or even a governor the state’s resources are spent lavishly on their wives.

“Office of the First Lady is not in our constitution; that should be removed.

“Also, lawmakers are paid salaries plus sitting allowances but they still collect constituency allowance, this is odd. This is a way of siphoning our resources and should be stopped.

“All these unapproved sources through which resources are being wasted should be blocked,” the cleric stated.