The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, says the
salaries of federal lawmakers is too small compared to the enormous jobs their
office entails them to do.
This was said by the deputy speaker during a Monday, February 26th, evening
speech on Channels TV. Rejecting demands that their pay be cut, Kalu stated
“We’re currently discussing the National Assembly’s wage. It’s not as much as
people think, as I’ve often stated. Pay is not the same as allowance, which is
intended to help us carry out the tasks that our constituents have assigned us.
Allowances are not to be touched by anyone. It is your salary that is yours.
There are no subheadings for allowances that they are intended for.
You will face consequences if you use it improperly when retiring.
So talking about the salaries of the National Assembly, it is a far cry from
what is supposed to be. And I can assure you that even if we reduce it by
50 per cent or 80 per cent, it will not really impact what the Nigerian
lawmakers should be earning, which does not go in tandem with the economic
situation of the country.
I can assure you that based on economic indices at the moment, inflation rate
and the rest of them, the amount members of the National Assembly receive
cannot actually take them home to do their their jobs in their various
constituencies.
Considering the cost of transport, running constituency offices and the number
of maintaining aides who are supposed to have you achieve what the mandate of
that office demands, it is not a discussion that will add value to the crisis
we are faced with.
However, I’m confident that they’ll be open to making changes. Why not, if
that’s what will elevate Nigeria to a new level? We did not send ourselves
there, after all. The people who cast their votes elected us. He stated
