The House of Representatives said on Wednesday
that complaints about the jumbo pay of Senators and members of the House should
be referred to the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, which
fixed the salaries and allowances of lawmakers.
that complaints about the jumbo pay of Senators and members of the House should
be referred to the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, which
fixed the salaries and allowances of lawmakers.
The House noted that the lawmakers’ wage was
computed by RMAFC after it considered several factors and took a decision on
what should be the pay package, based on the powers conferred on it by law.
computed by RMAFC after it considered several factors and took a decision on
what should be the pay package, based on the powers conferred on it by law.
Deputy House Majority Leader, Mr. Leo Ogor, who
spoke on the controversial huge pay of federal legislators said members were
always amazed whenever critics attacked lawmakers over the pay package as if
they fixed their own wage.
spoke on the controversial huge pay of federal legislators said members were
always amazed whenever critics attacked lawmakers over the pay package as if
they fixed their own wage.
“We are tired of responding to the same issue
every time; our explanations seem to be falling on deaf ears.
every time; our explanations seem to be falling on deaf ears.
“We didn’t fix our salaries and allowances; that
is the role of RMAFC. If you think that our salaries and allowances are too
much, ask the agency to slash what they recommended,” Ogor said.
is the role of RMAFC. If you think that our salaries and allowances are too
much, ask the agency to slash what they recommended,” Ogor said.
The pay of lawmakers generated public discourse
again following Monday’s statement by a former Minister of Education, Mrs. Oby
Ezekwesili, who said that the country had spent over N1.1tn on their upkeep
since 2005.
again following Monday’s statement by a former Minister of Education, Mrs. Oby
Ezekwesili, who said that the country had spent over N1.1tn on their upkeep
since 2005.
Only recently, an analysis by The Economist
rated Nigerian legislators the highest paid in the world, dwarfing countries
like Japan, USA, Britain, Kenya and Ghana.
rated Nigerian legislators the highest paid in the world, dwarfing countries
like Japan, USA, Britain, Kenya and Ghana.
For example, a member of the House takes a
monthly salary of between N900, 000 and N1.1m, besides a quarterly allowance of
between N27.9m and N33m.
monthly salary of between N900, 000 and N1.1m, besides a quarterly allowance of
between N27.9m and N33m.
In addition, legislators receive car and
furniture replacement loans and allowances every four years.
furniture replacement loans and allowances every four years.
Ezekwesili had spoken at a one-day dialogue on
the “cost of governance in Nigeria.”
the “cost of governance in Nigeria.”
As a way of cutting cost, many Nigerians have
called for a part-time legislature, as against the current practice whereby the
360 members of the House and 109 senators sit full time.
called for a part-time legislature, as against the current practice whereby the
360 members of the House and 109 senators sit full time.
They are paid on a monthly basis, whether they
work or not.
work or not.
But Ogor said that attacking the legislature “all
the time” was an attempt to cripple democracy, adding that a part-time
legislature would not work in the presidential system practiced by Nigeria.
the time” was an attempt to cripple democracy, adding that a part-time
legislature would not work in the presidential system practiced by Nigeria.
According to him, a part-time legislature will
promote dictatorship and allow the executive arm of government to operate
without “proper checks.”
promote dictatorship and allow the executive arm of government to operate
without “proper checks.”
He said, “It is either we want to practice
democracy or we do not. There is no presidential system of government anywhere
where you reduce the legislature to part-time and expect to get results.
democracy or we do not. There is no presidential system of government anywhere
where you reduce the legislature to part-time and expect to get results.
“The idea of the legislature is to enhance checks
and balances, which is not possible when the legislature is not fully
functional.
and balances, which is not possible when the legislature is not fully
functional.
“We are there to act as a check on the excesses
of the executive on a regular basis; that is the meaning of oversight as a
legislative duty.”
of the executive on a regular basis; that is the meaning of oversight as a
legislative duty.”
The Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public
Affairs, Mr. Zakari Mohammed, also opposed part-time legislature as a solution
to the high cost of governance.
Affairs, Mr. Zakari Mohammed, also opposed part-time legislature as a solution
to the high cost of governance.
He observed that since 2011, the National Assembly’s
budget had remained at N150bn to run the bureaucracy, maintain the lawmakers
and service the National Assembly Commission.
budget had remained at N150bn to run the bureaucracy, maintain the lawmakers
and service the National Assembly Commission.
Mohammed pointed to the executive where he said
the lion’s share of public budget was spent annually but to which “people turn
a blind eye.”
the lion’s share of public budget was spent annually but to which “people turn
a blind eye.”
He said, “Part-time legislature does not address
the cost of governance. People should appreciate what the legislature
represents as an institution of democracy, not just salaries and allowances.
the cost of governance. People should appreciate what the legislature
represents as an institution of democracy, not just salaries and allowances.
“Even in America, where we borrowed our presidential
model, they don’t practise part-time legislature there.
model, they don’t practise part-time legislature there.
“When the legislature is not fully functional,
what you are asking for is dictatorship.”
what you are asking for is dictatorship.”
However, the Minority Leader, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila,
told The PUNCH that he would support part-time legislature if it was the only
solution to Nigeria’s problems.
told The PUNCH that he would support part-time legislature if it was the only
solution to Nigeria’s problems.
“If part-time legislature is the panacea or
antidote and solution to our many problems in this country I am all for it,” he
said.
antidote and solution to our many problems in this country I am all for it,” he
said.
But, he faulted Ezekwesili on her position that
government was spending too much money on the legislature.
government was spending too much money on the legislature.
He said, “I think we should be objective and not
being dramatic about this obviously sensitive matter.
being dramatic about this obviously sensitive matter.
“From my simple mathematics, if you divide 1tn over
an 8-year period, you get an average of a little over 100bn per year.
an 8-year period, you get an average of a little over 100bn per year.
“Now, this is for a whole and distinct arm of
government and covers salaries, other recurrent and overheads for both Houses,
the National Assembly Commission, staff, capital projects and overheads.”
government and covers salaries, other recurrent and overheads for both Houses,
the National Assembly Commission, staff, capital projects and overheads.”
Gbajabiamila’s comment was contained in an
email he sent to our correspondent on Wednesday.
email he sent to our correspondent on Wednesday.
Source: Punch
