Is President Adama Barrow's government really serious about saving enough to deal with the country's financial crisis?
Rumours have been circulating that the president and his family receive D8219 every day for their food (depass).
One of Barrow's most outspoken critics, Yunus Hydara, who works in the British health sector, wrote on Facebook that a Finance Ministry insider disclosed to him that the annual depass at the State House cost the taxpayer D3m per year.
Yunus told his followers: "According to my Finance Ministry insider, the annual allocation for depass (ndawal) at the statehouse is D3 million."
One Ismaila Sarr in Dublin, Ireland commented: "Annual or monthly? Check again.... I think its 1.2 million per month."
Majority of Gambians still don’t know President Adama Barrow’s monthly salary and allowances. It was not reflected in the 2017-2018 fiscal year budget.
This, according to the leader of PDOIS and National Assembly member for Serre Kunda, Halifa Sallah, is in total contravention of the 1997 constitution.
During a debate in the National Assembly in December last year, he argued: "Section 68 of the constitution is very clear. It states that the president shall receive such salary and allowances as may be prescribed by an act of the National Assembly. And, such salary and allowances shall not be altered.”
However, a State House insider told What's On-Gambia that much of the money spent on Barrow, his two wives and children goes to perks such as entertainment and household expenses, which is included in the annual national budget.