Senators, on Wednesday, suspended the planned debate of the report of its ad hoc committee on finance which recommended a cut in their earnings.
The lawmakers, who went into a two-hour closed session to deliberate on the report, agreed to suspend the debate indefinitely.
It was gathered that the senators decided to reject the recommendation of the committee and also go into further consultations with other segments of the legislature.
Senate President, Bukola Saraki, who briefed the senators in open session after the doors were flung open, said that the senators at the closed session “deliberated on the report of the of the finance committee but agreed to stand it down for further legislative input.”
The ad hoc committee, headed by Senator James Manager, had recommended a 30 per cent pay cut for the senators across board.
It was, however, gathered that the senators rejected the proposal seeking a reduction of their pay, while also offering to extent the frontiers of consultation.
A source in the Senate told THE RECORDER that the senators rejected the recommendation because they felt that the recommendation was not practicable.
It was gathered that the Senate alone cannot go ahead and effect a reduction in its pay when the six other stakeholders in the legislature may not follow suit.
The committee was also said to have recommended the publication of all the payments due to the lawmakers to ensure transparency.
Chairman of the Senate Ad hoc Committee on Media and Publicity, Senator Dino Melaye, said that further debate on the report was suspended because the budget due to the Senate was only part of the budget due to the entire National Assembly, which is shared by seven sectors of the legislature.
Melaye said: “The Senate today, in closed door session, discussed the report of the ad-hoc committee on finances of the Senate. After due deliberations by the senators, we came to the conclusion that the budget of the Senate is not independent of the budget of the National Assembly.
“The budget of the House of Representatives is also inclusive. We have the management; We have the National Institute for Legislative Studies; We have even the Public Conduct Commission; the National Assembly Civil Service Commission and over 3, 000 legislative aides.
“We have agreed that we should consult with other arms that share the budget of the National Assembly, with the House of Representatives before we would draw a conclusion on the report.
“So, the resolution is that we are going to interface with the House of Representatives so that we can be on the same page on the report as presented. This is the resolution of the Senate today in closed door session.”
He also denied reports indicating that the National Assembly was experiencing cash crunch.
He said: “I am not aware of any cash crunch, and for me, it’s news from you, and I don’t think it’s true,” adding that senators, like the president and vice president, have the power to reduce their own pay.
