A cross-section of Nigerians on Friday expressed divergent views over disagreement among senators to approve pay cut in their emolument as recommended by the Senate’ Committee on Finance.
The Senate had on Wednesday, suspended consideration of the Sen. James Manager’s committee’s report following disagreement by members on its recommendation of a slash in their remuneration.
Some of those who spoke supported the move for downward review of the salaries and allowances of the lawmakers while others queried the rationale behind the proposal.
Mr Peter Abraham, a lecturer at the National Open University of Nigeria, said that contrary to public perceptions, what the legislators earned was nothing near what those in the Executive arm of government earned.
“I wonder why Nigerians are always quick to cast aspersion on the pay of the National Assembly members and legislators in states’ Houses of Assembly.
“If you know what the president and his aides, ministers, governors and even local government council chairmen earn, you will know that legislators are less corrupt.
“Just look at the fraud called Security Vote; nobody knows what the executive allocate to themselves as security votes and you wonder what they are even securing.
“The whole security vote is shrouded in secrecy. Also, these executives sometimes have bogus aides called special advisers, special assistants, senior special advisers, senior special assistants, who do nothing.
“It is in this country that some state governors had 3,000 special advisers that they don’t even know and who did nothing other than collect monthly salaries,” he said.
Ms Taire Nwachukwu, a staff member of a commercial bank, said that the pay cut should be across the board among the executive, legislative and the judiciary arms of government.
“I work at the bank and what we see about the way these governors, ministers and even council chairmen move money is baffling.
“I think what the lawmakers earn is not too much compared with their obligations to their constituents.
“Lawmakers are closer and more approachable to the people than the executives. So how do we expect them to service these dependents without commensurate pay?” she said.
However, an unemployed man, Jude Ode, called for the abrogation of bi-cameral legislature in Nigeria to be replaced with unicameral legislature.
He also called for the payment of legislators on part-time basis, asking ‘’how can legislators, who are less than 500 people, take about 10 per cent of the country’s annual budget meant for 180 million people?
“How can an arm of government decide its budget, sit over it, approve it and expend it without anybody’s input to serve as a check?’’
“As an unemployed, when I consider all these amidst the abject poverty in this country, I realise that it is not sustainable or the system will collapse,” Ode said.
On his part, Umar Mustapha, a taxi driver, called on the legislators to emulate President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, who cut their salaries by half.
Mustapha said that there was so much poverty in the land and there was the need for the nation’s resources to go round.
“It is an offence against the common man and a sin against God for one per cent to be amassing more than half of what belongs to everybody.
“I am a graduate but there is no employment in the land.
‘’Companies have become comatose and pensioners cannot eat the fruit of their labour. This should change,” he said. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Double the money then..We cannot blame you but us docile ignorant masses that will lynch a poor man for stealing a tuber of yam. Nigeria we think we are smart but the while world laughs at us
ReplyDeleteNigerians who live below poverty are quick to support madness in the political cycle. If we are united in ensuring sanity in one arm of govt. It is certain that others will follow.
ReplyDeleteBut what are I see is senseless justification by comparison. When one is caught stealing Nigerians will support the shameless act by justifying it that others are stealing without being caught. On corruption GEJ's defence was don't probe me without probing my predecessors. God where are you? Please save us from our stupidity
Disband this sanctuary of thieves called the National Assembly. All the governors who looted their states end up in the National Assembly as lawmakers. What a cursed nation called Nigeria.
ReplyDeleteLet them retain their salaries and allowances but let the civil servants enjoy same and anytime the go on reccess let the civli servants do the same . Let now see where they will get money for their indulgenses
ReplyDeleteIt is very simple. Whoever among them that is not ok with reduction should just return to where he/she comes from. Shameless people! They go to Abuja boxing themselves on air! Can anyone tell us these are lawmakers?
ReplyDeleteWhere were those that were there before when stupid and senseless ministers looted the country's treasuries?
Please, whoever is not satisfied with downward takeaway should just leave and allow those Patriotic among them to do job. Afterall, everyone remember who he won the election that took him/her to Abuja.
The legislative arm of the government has the constitutional right to prune the income of the executive through their collective vote if they deem it fit. Before they can do this it is pertinent they start from themselves because their outrageous income is not commensurate to their lean service contrary to the university don's opinion. Presently they are on recess and they will still be paid for the job they not doing.
ReplyDeleteLet there be pay-cut across board. These people from Executive to Judicial arms are not doing anything to the masses. They are just there enriching themselves. Even those of us who voted them in there are forgotten afterwards. It is because of these there outrageous salaries that make them fight and kill people during election. For instance now they put their salaries like 300000 naira per month, you will see that election in Nigeria will always be a game of volunteers and will no longer be bloody.
ReplyDeleteAll those people eating all these money having forgotten that we have many graduates like them whose their monthly income is less than 100000 naira and they still keep their family sustained. How many times have any of us got records of these members of Senates and house of Assembly of their achievements to their constituencies? Thanks to PMB for such kind gesture.
Very well said agada. If they make their monthly salary about 300 or even 500k per month, then it would be a voluntary service and no longer a bloody battle.
ReplyDelete