A member of the House of Representatives, Mr . Zakari Mohammed, says members of the National Assembly are not the highest paid political office holders in Nigeria.

Mohammed, who represents Baruten/Kaiama Federal Constituency, also denied that the legislators pay was a guarded secret.

The public perception of the National Assembly is in sharp contrast to the reality on the ground as far as the lawmakers take- home and other allowances are concerned, he told the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday in Gure , Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara.

According to him, chief executives of federal agencies earn more salary than the National Assembly members.

“ I can tell you that a Director-General of a Federal agency is far and above better than a member of parliament in terms of what he takes home in terms of pegs of office.

“Whatever a legislature does is within the limit of his allowances and the salary that he takes.

“ Whatever we do is within the income , we don’ t award contracts, we don't execute projects.”

Mohammed, however, advocated regular interface between the National Assembly and the public to address what he termed as current erroneous perception on the matter.

“ So for me, I believe it is a mindset and it is going to take sometimes to get it off Nigerians heads, and I believe a regular interface with the public will change the psyche with time. ”

The lawmaker noted that the legislature had been painted in bad light since the inception of the fourth republic.

“The National Assembly since 1999 has been living with image issue and of course I’m saying it without any fear of contradiction that it was caused by the then President ( Olusegun ) Obasanjo.

“ To me, it is matter of psyche . Nigeria must get it out of them that legislature is being painted in the kind of light that it is not supposed to be, because I have been a member of the house and know exactly what they are doing ”, he said.

The former House spokesman cautioned Gov. Nasir El - Rufai of Kaduna State against casting aspersions on the National Assembly.

He said the governor had taken the path of demonizing the National Assembly because of ‘‘individual inclination ’’ and his grouse with some lawmakers representing his state.

Mohammed described the governor ’ s recent outburst over the national Assembly budget as ‘‘hypocritical ’’.

LionDeLeo:
Fed workers earn more than NASS members?

Acidosis:


Yes, Buhari and NNPC Chairman are Federal workers. They earn more than the average NASS member.

LionDeLeo:


If buhari is a fed worker, NASS members are local govt workers abi?

Gerrout.

gberra:
This old fool wouldn't reveal they connived with civil servants to fleece us. As a matter of fact, they received handouts from the civil servants with whom they perfect sleaze. stupid sleazebags.


Igbos always cry.

Acidosis:




You guys should learn how to think like proper graduates.

Are you insinuating that Senator Akpabio earn more than what he got while serving as the Governor of Akwa Ibom state?

You guys should learn how to analyze the simplest of the simplest concern without necessarily basing your judgment on what an illiterate in Aso Rock thinks about NASS.

The poorest Governor in the current day Nigeria is way richer than the richest 1st time serving NASS member - That's a fact from me.

Senators basic salaries are determined by the Federal Government. For the Governors, they set their own preferred Salary, they can so choose to divert the allocation of 21 local governments and heaven will not fall, and of course, the dum.bass citizens will not do anything.


Kogi state Governor has currently diverted several months allocation on investment. That's what an average Governor does. They get the funds, invest like N3billion in a bank in order to realize at least N300million interest within 6 months. During this period, civil servants can die, and protest all they want, and heavens will not fall, after all, the dum.bass citizens care more about a NASS that has little or no contributions to make to an average citizen even if they earn N5 per month.

Our lives won't improve even if all the Senators decide to work for FREE. We are so diverted from the real issues in this country.


Before you mention Saraki, Dino, etc, remember where they came from. They didnt start looting 2 years ago.

If you care to know how "poor" the Legislators are when compared to an average Governor, go and check the lifestyle of a 1st time serving Senator, not Saraki, Dino, David Mark, or Stella Oduah.

Any illiterate that really want to loot should envy a gubernatorial position far ahead of a Legislative position.

LionDeLeo:

If buhari is a fed worker, NASS members are local govt workers abi?
Gerrout.

LionDeLeo:
[s][/s]

Thrash.

You said Bubu earns more than NASS members because he is a fed worker, are NASS members not fed workers as well?

Answer this and spare those thrash.

gberra:
Lol!!!.. More like NASS are Non-governmental organisation.

That dude depicts ipob crudity.

Acidosis:


You're more illiterate than I earlier thought. Focus on the actual meaning of his expressions as stated in the first paragraph, not the paraphrased title by an amateur editor.

NASS members are not the highest remunerated political office or federal/public office holders. That's the main point, so deal with it.

SalamRushdie:
He has made e a valid point , they don't award contracts nor make payments on behalf of govt but yet Nigerians think they are more corrupt than the executives ...Any corrupt money that gets into the National assembly is usually bribes from the executives

gberra:
Lol!!!.. More like NASS are Non-governmental organisation.

That dude depicts ipob crudity.

OjukwuWarBird:


How is IPOB related to this topic


You need to go for a medical checkup before it becomes a market thing

LionDeLeo:


I think you are the illiterate here as you attempt to even bring in state governors into your warped analysis even though the topic is about fed govt.

You even exhibit more confusion while attempting to merge up tenured appointments with civil service.

If you are educated enough, you should know that reference is being made to fed civil servants rather than tenured appointment holders.

“ I can tell you that a Director-General of a Federal agency is far and above better than a member of parliament in terms of what he takes home in terms of pegs of office.

“Whatever a legislature does is within the limit of his allowances and the salary that he takes.

“ Whatever we do is within the income , we don’ t award contracts, we don't execute projects.

Acidosis:



You guys should learn how to think like proper graduates.

Are you insinuating that Senator Akpabio earn more than what he got while serving as the Governor of Akwa Ibom state?

You guys should learn how to analyze the simplest of the simplest concern without necessarily basing your judgment on what an illiterate in Aso Rock thinks about NASS.

The poorest Governor in the current day Nigeria is way richer than the richest 1st time serving NASS member - That's a fact from me.

Senators basic salaries are determined by the Federal Government. For the Governors, they set their own preferred Salary, they can so choose to divert the allocation of 21 local governments and heaven will not fall, and of course, the dum.bass citizens will not do anything.


Kogi state Governor has currently diverted several months allocation on investment. That's what an average Governor does. They get the funds, invest like N3billion in a bank in order to realize at least N300million interest within 6 months. During this period, civil servants can die, and protest all they want, and heavens will not fall, after all, the dum.bass citizens care more about a NASS that has little or no contributions to make to an average citizen even if they earn N5 per month.

Our lives won't improve even if all the Senators decide to work for FREE. We are so diverted from the real issues in this country.


An ordinary DG of an agency was caught with billions of Naira and people still assume that Nigerian Senators are the ONLY or biggest thieves in the country..

Lol!


Before you mention Saraki, Dino, etc, remember where they came from. They didnt start looting 2 years ago.

If you care to know how "poor" the Legislators are when compared to an average Governor, go and check the lifestyle of a 1st time serving Senator, not Saraki, Dino, David Mark, or Stella Oduah.

Any illiterate that really wants to loot would envy a gubernatorial position or any of those NNPC subsidiaries far ahead of a poor Legislative position.

Acidosis:


An average illiterate like you always shove it down the throats of your followers that Senators are the biggest and richest political office holders, so I considered it important to remind you and your likes that your Governors are ruining you blatantly, while the Presidency concurrently divert your focus on NASS.

I bet you didn't read this;

LionDeLeo:


What is wrong with this man? Are you confused? What is with state governors? Are state governors also fed workers? Have you ever seen NASS budget? Do you know how much a director earns?

Dude, apply Google and stop embarrassing whichever school you had attended.

Acidosis:


I have seen the payslips of Dogara and Saraki on Channels television. I also have an idea of what they earn as allowances.

You should stop embarrassing the internet by distributing fake broadcast WhatsApp messages about the salaries of NASS members.

LionDeLeo:


Which kind illiterate be dis?

So, in your mind, a legislator lives those flamboyant lifestyle with a salary 333k? Nawao!

Acidosis:


No, like any other political office holders, Senators earn allowances.


My point is this; you don't just wake up from a funny night mare and declare the Senators as the highest remunerated political office or Federal workers.

I'm a data analyst and I know what it means when an association is being made between 5, 6, or 7 variables.

I'm not a rumour monger, I work with data, not opinions of opinionated illiterates.

I'm also not defending NASS or any executives but I won't be so f00lish to declare one arm as the most corrupt because another arm pretends to be hollier than angel Michael.

LionDeLeo:


Dude, you may be a data analyst or whatever and nobody is doubting whatever you say you are but I put it to you that there is no fed civil servant earning as much as our Legislators.

What stops them from making their earnings public? Don't be confused by payslips displaying basic salary.

As public officers holding political appointments, they may not be the highest earners, but comparing them with civil servants, they should go and say that to the marines.