Nigerian senators earn more
than Trump, UK PM -Oyebola
Oladimeji Ramon
The Initiator and Chairman, Movement
for Nigeria's Total Transformation, Chief
Areoye Oyebola, has decried the non-
responsiveness of Nigerian federal
lawmakers to the widespread call for the
downward review of their "monumental
salaries and allowances."
According to Oyebola, the recent
criticism of the federal legislators by the
Chairman of the Presidential Advisory
Committee Against Corruption, Prof. Itse
Sagay (SAN), was just one of many
criticisms that had trailed the lawmakers
over the years but to which they had
turned deaf ears. He recalled that he had raised the same
issue in a publication, tagged, "Grave
Issues Nigeria Must Tackle," which was
publicly presented at a gathering that
had in attendance eminent Nigerians
such as a former Lagos State Governor,
Babatunde Fashola(SAN); human rights
lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN); and Prof. Pat
Utomi.
Oyebola had, in the presentation,
decried what he described as the
insensitivity of the lawmakers, who he
said, were living large in the midst of
widespread poverty in the country.
He noted then that the earnings of the
United States of America's President
were far lower than what a Nigerian
lawmaker took home.
He had said, "It is also strange,
unthinkable and very disheartening that
a senator, not minding the grinding
poverty of Nigerians, earns $1.7m a
year, which is far higher than the
$400,000 yearly income of the United
States' President, whose stupendous
country is the richest in the world. Even
a member of the House of
Representatives also earns more than the
American President. What a tragic and
pathetic situation!
"Worse still, each of our National
Assembly members earns more than the
British Prime Minister, while the pay of
a member of Ghana's unicameral
legislature is a very small fraction of our
House of Representatives' member
jumbo pay of more than N10m in a
month, let alone the monumental
quarterly allowances that have led to
serious public outcry.
"The multi-million naira earned by the
leadership of the Senate and the House
of Representatives even worse, more
outrageous and mind-boggling."
Oyebola noted that despite their modest
pay, compared to the Nigerian federal
lawmakers, the legislators in Ghana
worked harder and "have minimal
absenteeism," while they had also done
much to sustain their country's
democracy, "which is a model for many
African countries." He said the Ghanaian lawmakers were
also more sensitive to the realities in
their country, recalling that an attempt
by them to have a raise in earnings in
2009 was immediately jettisoned
following a public outcry.
Oyebola called for a 90 per cent cut in
the earnings of Nigerian elected public
officials, saying with that they would still
be richer than their counterparts in the
US and the UK.
He said, "As suggested below, for the
National Assembly, the President,
ministers, state governors, state
legislators, chairmen of local
governments and councillors should have
their pay and allowances reduced to 10
per cent of their present earnings. If
effected, each senator's present earnings
of N15m a month will be reduced to
N1.5m or N18m a year. A similar 90 per
cent reduction should be effected from
the pay of members of the House of
Representatives."
According to him, this is the only way to
ensure that politics would no longer be a
matter of do-or-die..
source: http://odili.net/news/source/2017/oct/9/837.html

It's really a pity whats goes on in this country i really doubt the hope of the common man .. i dedicate this F2C to all My mother for always believeing in me to all guys trying to survive God make Urs Bigger.... @ Cc lalastilala move this to the right place our youths needs to kw the truth...

'nd so?

wot a pity, after they will say Nigeria is broke

ApolitiCal:
'nd so?

The money that should be used to creat jobs for our youths re been shared by some group of well dressed Criminals causing our youth to exploit dubious means to survive . you asking and so i think you need a good beating for saying that.