Some residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have criticised the rejection of a pay cut by members of the Senate.
Speaking in separate interviews with NAN on Thursday in Abuja, some of them described the rejection as insensitivity on the part of the senators.
Others advised them to listen to the yearnings of their constituents before supporting or rejecting any decision.
Mr Thomas Akala, a resident of Kubwa, described the move as self-centeredness on the part of the lawmakers.
“I was surprised to learn that these senators actually rejected the move to reduce their outrageous salaries and allowances. This has further proved that these people are there for their selfish interests, and not to serve the country.
“They are expected to support the decision as a mark of self-sacrifice to mitigate the effect of the sharp drop in federal revenue,” he said.
Mr Aliu Ahmed, a civil servant in Abuja, also condemned the senators’ position.
He advised the Nigerian electorate to screen candidates properly before electing them to the legislature.
“This conduct is disappointing and it defeats the purpose of having a legislative arm of government to serve as a check and balance on the other arms of government.
“I can only advise Nigerians to beware of the kind of individuals they elect into parliament because these ones cannot represent the Nigerian masses,” he said.
Also commenting, Mr Abas Aminu, also a civil servant, advocated for a unicameral legislature to save cost.
“I think we need to re-assess the idea of having two legislative chambers in the first place; the idea of having Senate President and a Speaker at the same time is duplication.
“We can either adopt the American model, where the Vice President is the Senate President, with the speaker heading the Parliament, or the South African model, where there is one chamber.
“In both cases, a lot of revenue will be saved for capital development,” he said.
NAN recalls that the Senate on Wednesday suspended consideration of the report of its Finance Committee, following sharp disagreements among members over the pay cut recommended by the panel.
The senators, during deliberation, resolved to reject the reduction of salaries and allowances as recommended by the Sen. James Manager Committee. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
You think they looted, rigged, borrowed, lied, some killed, bribed etc just to be angel Gabriel in the end? What naive docile people nigerians are.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you expect from crooks who could do anything to grab power including forget?
ReplyDeleteWhat do you expect from crooks who could do anything to grab power including forgery ?
ReplyDeleteWhat do you expect from crooks who could do anything to grab power including forgery?
ReplyDeleteI don't subscribe to the issue of permanent legislative arm of government. We should restructure our political system to accommodate part time members who will only converge at designated intervals and deliberate while they are paid for sitting, this will afford them opportunity of having their secular work instead of their incessant recesses, wasting our resources. It is a lie that they are representing us.
ReplyDeleteI think the right time for NLC members to give the lawmaker striking warning because if the do the lawmaker we be call to other.....we what to know the amount.
ReplyDeleteThe solution lies with the Labpur Union . We thought Buhari will establish a good foundation of Governing for generations of yet unborn , but our so call representative are there to scuttle what this administration has started. If they are blind to what is going on in the Nation then the Labour should set in and give them a warning to toil the line of Gpvt or they be forced out by calling all workers to go on indifinite strike that will eliminate them as representatives of the people . It will be tough though but let the people suffer now and rejoice later. How many are they that they have a burget of 120 Billion Naira a year to spend. Freedom is not an eAsy thing to get. Why must we buy them cars , houses to live may be we even pay for there feeding , who knows. If they cannot cut their expenses and salaries them there should be no alternative than to force them to go. Nigerians can do it if our labour Unions will not be compromised
ReplyDeleteSupported and if that fails, come 2019, we vote only on the president ballot paper and leave the senate ballot BLANK! It's time to let this guys know again that Power belongs to the people.
ReplyDeleteFemi Afolayan, you are suppoted.there should be nationwide strike if they bluntly reject the pay cut.That means they are insensitive to nation building(selfish)
ReplyDeleteWe are blaming these people now,but the bitter truth is that the electorate are the most disgruntled. If two opposing contestants had sought your vote,the serious minded,humble candidate who has not stolen is not likely to win because he has no money to give to you. You may even see him as a miser. Whereas the other hauled bags of rice,salt,tins of cooking oil,tops it all with bales of thousand naira notes. You know the type of applause that would generate. Yes,I know him,he's generous! Few days before the election he has handed over 500,000 naira to ward chairman for onward transmission to the voters. By now the other contestant must have been forgotten.The 'generous' contestant wins, even without the characteristic rigging. You may even describe such election as free and fair.But both electorate and the elected are corrupt.
ReplyDelete