A
member of the House of Representatives, Chief Joe Edionwele, on Monday,
protested against the debate for pay cut for legislators, describing
the proponents of the crusade as ignorant.
Edionwele, a member of the Peoples
Democratic Party representing Esan West, Esan Central and Igueben
federal constituency of Edo State, said some lecturers, bankers and oil
workers were earning more than federal lawmakers.
While speaking to journalists in Abuja,
the lawmakers said, “I think people are speaking out of ignorance. Even
before now, I was one of those who believed the same thing. The records
will be made public. We will ensure that the National Assembly does
that, Nigerians need to know. The salaries we earn are not in any way
close to what people speculate. People in the oil and gas sectors,
banking and even lecturers earn more than us and the President.
“By the time we make it public, everybody
will have peace. It will give you peace. One of my friends told me that
the salary and allowances I will earn will be N40m. I told him if I get
that for 10 months, I will resign. I can tell you that by the time it
is made public, people will sympathise with us. Legislators should earn
well so that they will not be corrupt during their oversight functions.
“The problem of this country is
corruption. When people talk about pay cut, I laugh. How much are we
going to get back from the pay cut? The corruption in this country is
endemic. Look at the corruption in the oil sector; if we are able to
sanitise that sector for instance, our problem will reduce. If we can
know what we generate from different agencies, then we can have enough
money to finance projects. Look at the governors and their security
votes. Their votes are over bloated. Look at the number of cars
governors use.
“You heard when Buhari rejected 253 DSS
operatives. What are you doing with that number? There are so many
things to cut down on. I am also glad that Mr. President said in spite
of what the law says, he is going to be concerned about what happens at
the local government level. The security vote of a council chairman for
instance is N2m. What is a local government chairman doing with such
money? Then a governor gets over N200m. Why should somebody then talk
about a salary that is less than N1m?”
He said President Muhammadu Buhari would have no need for the 15 special assistants approved for him by the Senate.
He said the figure was unreasonable.
“Mr. President, for instance, just got an
approval for 15 special advisers. What are they advising? We really do
not need all that. Mr. President has about three bullet-proofs Mercedes
Benz. Does he really need them? We must downsize in every sector. For
instance, we should do away with the entertainment allowance. State
Houses of Assembly enjoy it,” he stated.
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