SPEAKER of the House of
Representatives, Aminu Waziri
Tambuwal yesterday in Lagos took a
swipe at those accusing the nation’s
lawmakers of earning outrageous
salaries, saying their pay was
reasonable given the peculiarities of
their job.
Also, the speaker and Lagos State
Governor, Babatunde Fashola,
yesterday took turns to blame the
country’s failed political leadership
on irresponsive and inactive
fellowship.
While Tambuwal said the “problem
rests squarely on fellowship”, Fashola
observed that the country could do
better if leaders discharge their
constitutional responsibilities,
including fulfilling tax obligations.
Both leaders spoke at the Fifth
Christopher Kolade Symposium
series organised by the Nigeria
Leadership Initiative (NLI).
The speaker, who was represented by
the Minority Leader of the House,
Femi Gbajabiamila, said what many
people have classified as lawmakers’
salaries were allowances they collect
to discharge their duties effectively.
He disclosed that his job requires that
he visits his constituency weekly,
which puts his airfare allowance
alone at N500, 000 monthly.
He said he has challenged his
colleagues to make their salaries and
allowances public so that Nigerians
would know the exact legislative
packages that have caused ripples in
recent years.
Justifying legislators’ pay, the
speaker said Nigerians have grown to
rely heavily on the lawmakers for their
personal needs unknown to them that
their constitutional responsibilities
are not related to such assistances.
Observing that a society gets the
leadership it deserves, he noted that
when people hold government
accountable, they will be able to
directly dictate what “the government
gives them.”
Tambuwal observed that the Nigeria
dream is “life more abundantly” and
it could only come to fusion through
a responsible followership.
He added that Nigeria’s dream has
not been achieved because the
masses have failed to hold
government accountable. He
attributed the historical woes and
official corruption to the inability of
the followers to hold on to their
stance against all odds.
Noting that though the ultimate
leader is a servant of the people,
Fashola stated that the relationship
between the leader and the followers
demands that both play their role in
line with the Constitution. The
governor said a true leader must live
in fear but must not allow the fear to
overwhelm him because he must
have the dignity to continue despite
the fear as it helps to keep him
focused in his task.
He also believes that having a
Nigeria dream will help shape and
set standards that would guide the
leaders and the followers to know
their rights and responsibilities.
In his contribution, Atedo Peterside,
represented by the CEO of Stanbic
IBTC Pensions, Mr. Demola Sogunle,
said leadership was not about title or
position but positively affecting and
influencing lives. He said that
leadership in the corporate world is
about balancing short-term goals
with long-term vision of the
organisation.
For the Chief Executive Officer of
Nigeria Leadership Initiative, Mr.
Yinka Oyinlola, the need for
accountability and being responsible
should not be limited to the leaders,
as the followers must also be
accountable and responsible.
He, however, alluded to how bad
system changes a good leader and
how for example, a good leader
changed the fate of Rwanda.
http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php/news/national-news/139128-our-pay-justified-says-tambuwal

first to comment

No less than you expect from these types.
Crack their heads and you will not even find anything bigger than a
groundnut seed .

In as much as i'm a uni student, awaitin ASUU to call of d strike.
If d reps pay is justified, where dey decide d figures (afterall dey're d lawmakers). How much more is den d agreement signed by dese so government with ASUU which is much more authentic dan dier personal fat figures..yet they cant fulfil dier obligictions which is bound by law.. How is dis justification on d part of Government?..

These are d reasons why ASUU act d way dey do...sincerely i dont blame dem 2 an extent on a liberal perspective.

He is in the "opposition".
They have even mentioned his name as a presidential hopeful.