[img]http://dailytrust.info/images/stories/legislators/Nigerian-Senate.jpg[/img]

Nigerian federal legislators receive much higher salaries than their counterparts in wealthier countries and key developing nations, according to an analysis published by the Economist magazine.

A Nigerian legislator receives an annual salary of about $189,000, equivalent of N30 million, which is 116 times the country's gross domestic product (GDP) per person, says the publication which was posted on the magazine's website on Friday.

The figures put salaries collected by Nigerian senators and members of the House of Representatives way ahead of those received by fellow parliamentarians in the 29 countries whose data was analysed by the Economist.

In terms of volume of cash earnings, the Nigerian legislators beat their counterparts in Britain who take $105,400 yearly, as well as those in the United States ($174,000), France ($85,900), South Africa ($104,000), Kenya ($74,500), Saudi Arabia ($64,000) and Brazil ($157,600).

In terms of lawmakers' salaries as a ratio of GDP per capita, the gap is even much wider. While the salary of a Nigerian lawmaker is 116 times the country's GDP per person, that of a British member of parliament is just 2.7 times.

The report said Britain's legislators pay is "relatively parsimonious" when compared with that of their counterparts in poorer countries, including Nigeria, who "enjoy the heftiest salaries by this measure."

According to the data, only Australian lawmakers, with $201,200 annual salary, receive higher amounts compared to Nigerian legislators, but their salaries are only 3 times their country's GDP per person.

Other yearly salary details published by the Economist are those of lawmakers in Ghana ($46,500), Indonesia ($65,800), Thailand ($43,800), India ($11,200), Italy ($182,000), Bangladesh ($4,000), Israel ($114,800), Hong Kong ($130,700), Japan ($149,700), Singapore ($154,000), Canada ($154,000), New Zealand ($112,500), Germany ($119,500), Ireland ($120,400), Pakistan ($3,500), Malaysia ($25,300), Sweden ($99,300), Sri Lanka ($5,100), Spain ($43,900) and Norway ($138,000).

Secretive

The National Assembly has been secretive with the specific amounts members collect in salaries and allowances, refusing to provide information to journalists and activists even when requests are made under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

http://allafrica.com/stories/201307221471.html

http://dailytrust.info/index.php/top-stories/1311-nigerian-lawmakers-top-salaries-chart

That is what they receive to enact laws to abuse and enslave the citizens. God wil help us.

The Economist hasn't told us what we don't know already.

The question, as always, is WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO ABOUT IT?

From Daily Trust:

A total of N150 billion was voted for the National Assembly in the 2013 national budget but there is no breakdown, which should have shown at least a summary of the legislators’ earnings.

Months ago, Daily Trust wrote a letter under FOIA requesting for the National Assembly’s budget breakdown but this was refused.

The question is, why do we make so much noise over Jonathan's "N1 billion feeding budget" when our lawmakers are carting away N150 billion with minimal tangible results to the country (in terms of landmark legislation or proper legislative oversight)?

Aren't we getting our priorities wrong?

We need to organize a National Day of Rage against these thieving legislooters.

Nna dis kind news makes me feel like deleting people o.

England was built by selfless citizens who treasured their Fatherland. America was engineered by thoughtful Americans who valued their Motherland. Nigeria was ruined by selfish and thoughtless government officials who treasured and valued visiting England and America, where nobody respected them and their stolen wealth.

Working for the common good of the men, women, and children of their country, American lawmakers maneuver and bicker over how to make their country the greatest in the world. British lawmakers debate and wrangle over how to make life better for their fellow compatriots. At the other extreme of the spectrum, Nigerian lawmakers coax and arm-twist one another over who can loot the nation’s treasury most. They debate over nothing than how to increase their own wages and emoluments, while fellow Nigerians bake in utter poverty.

Being a Member of Parliament in the United Kingdom means service to the men, women, and children of England. Earning a seat in the United States Congress amounts to making America a great nation. Winning (or rigging) an election to the Nigerian National Assembly means unrestrained access to the nation's oil wealth.

The Nigerian lawmakers have had 14 years of uninterrupted opportunity to make laws that add values and comfort to the people of Nigeria. Sadly, they have squandered the political capital expressly given to them by the people of Nigeria. They treat their nation’s treasury like plunder of war that is meant for sharing.

Like irredeemable prodigal sons and daughters, the leadership and members of the Nigerian National Assembly have done nothing than grabbing, squandering, and wrecking the nation’s treasury. Instead of making laws that generate comfort, security, and prosperity for the nation, the (dis)honorable members of the Nigerian National Assembly specialize in creating a hopeless people out of fellow Nigerians.

Rather than defending the honor and greatness of their Motherland, the Nigerian lawmakers have done nothing than treating Nigeria and Nigerians with contempt. To them, Nigerians don’t deserve anything better than paucity.

http://www.africaundisguised.com/newsportal/story/there-conscientious-lawmaker-nigerian-national-assembly