Nigerian Senate spokesman, Yemi Adaramodu has appealed to Nigerians to stop criticising members of the National Assembly over what is considered to be their bogus salary and allowances.
Adaramodu said the allocation to the NASS is just “one” percent of the nation’s yearly budget.
The senate spokesperson made the remark on Sunday on Channels Television, denying suggestions that lawmakers are earning bogus salary and other allowances.
His spoke amidst calls from Nigerians for government officials to reduce their pay, in line with the current economic situation in the country.
Not a few Nigerians have criticised government officials for earning big pay at the expense of other Nigerians who are current facing hardship as a result of policies introduced by their government.
In this wise, they are calling on the president, vice president, state governors to reduce their take-home pay in line with the current realities in the country.
“You cannot be earning big salary, living ostentatious lifestyles while you are telling Nigerians to tighten their belts, political office holders must show good example that they are serious about moving the country forward, and also show that they are feeling what Nigerians are going through. Failure to do this could end in a catastrophe for the country. There is hunger in the land,” an analyst said.
The magazine reported that Olisa Agbakoba, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, warmed the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration of a potential protests among Nigerians is an immediate steps are not taken to address the current economic hardship in the country.
The rights activist and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, who urged the president to cut down the cost of governance in the country, stated the hunger in the country has become too unbearable for Nigerians.
Agbakoba Said: “Hunger riot can occur anytime in Nigeria.
“President Tinubu needs to dismantle the cabinet. Having over 40 ministers is too large. We don’t need more than 20 ministries.”
Reacting, Adaramodu explained that the suggestion that NASS members are earning bogus salary is untrue.
“The budget of the National Assembly is not up to 1% of the whole budget, it’s not up to,” Senator Adaramodu said, adding that the NASS is an important arm of government that should not be neglected or starve of funds to run its operation.
The agitation for government officials to reduce their pay has been recently sparked following what happened in Kenya, where President William Ruto was forced to slash the salary of government officials in the country, including the First Lady of the country.
The Kenyan government’s decision came following weeks of violent protest in the country due to economic hardship.
Meanwhile, not a few Nigerians insist that the salary and allowance of NASS members have been shrouded in secrecy, making it difficult to know what thy actually earn working for the country.
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