NIGERIA'S senators appear prepared to cut their jumbo allowances in response to the public outcry over the National Assembly's drain on the country's resources by constituting a committee to review their packages.
Currently consuming about 3% of Nigeria's annual budget, the National Assembly is hugely expensive with lawmakers being the most highly paid legislators in the world. Apart from their hefty salaries, Nigerian legislators also receive all kinds of bonuses and allowances, including a recently approved N9bn (£29m) wardrobe allowance.
Senators and members of the House of Representatives cost Nigeria N150bn (£479.4m) annually at a time when state are unable to pay their workers. With over half of Nigeria's states owing salary arrears, there has been a huge outcry over the cost of the National Assembly, forcing the senators to look into the matter.
Yesterday, the senate constituted a nine-man committee to determine if a reduction is adequate or not and to determine whether the mode of disbursement of office running costs is appropriate. It will also determine whether the National Assembly's detailed budget should be made public and will liaise with the secretary of finance and accounts to determine appropriate salary and allowances for members, as well as consider standard running costs and any other related issues.
Chaired by senate leader Ali Ndume, the other members of the committee include Shehu Sani (Kaduna Central), Shaba Lafiagi (Kwara North), Sunny Ogbuoji (Ebonyi South), James Manager (Delta South), Gbenga Ashafa (Lagos East), Dino Melaye (Kogi West) and Ben Murray-Bruce (Bayelsa East). While inaugurating the committee, senate president Senator Bukola Saraki said agitation for the reduction of the cost of governance particularly the earnings of lawmakers, has remained a sensitive matter which calls for accountability and transparency in all spheres of legislation.
Senator Saraki said: “The subject of reduction in cost of governance has been a sensitive matter on the front burner of national issues in the polity especially with regards to the legislature. While much of this could be due to an underlining ambiguity in the monthly salaries of legislators and their allowances, there still persists the need to project clarity, accountability and transparency in all legislative matters and legislators’ welfare.
“The eighth senate under our watch recognises the concerns raised by Nigerians about the cost of running office most especially with the economic challenges facing our nation. This senate will be more transparent regarding all public funds spent for the purpose of paying salaries and allowances of legislators and ensure that distinction is sufficiently made between what a legislator actually earns and what is spent to run and implement legislative business and committee activities."
He tasked the committee to carry out thorough fiscal examination of the senate’s finances with a view to evolving a cost-effective regime. According to Senator Saraki, the watchword on financial issues from now on will be fiscal conservatism.
