Organised labour and the Nigerian Bar Association have disagreed with the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), for saying that members of the National Assembly are not overpaid for the work they do.
They said it was not only disappointing, but also appaling for the President to overlook the country’s economic reality and the suffering of Nigerians while justifying the lawmakers’ jumbo pay.
The President of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (Trade Union Side), AbdlRauf Adeniji, in an interview with The PUNCH in Abuja on Sunday, said labour, not the legislature, created wealth of the nation.
Adediji said it was appalling for the President to overlook the suffering of Nigerians and attempt to justify the huge earnings received by the lawmakers in salaries and allowances for doing little and adding no value to the nation’s economy.
Minister, other members of executive take what they like
He said, “The position of labour is clear on this matter. Nigeria is the only place where lawmakers are being paid jumbo salaries. It does not happen even in the United States or the United Kingdom. Maybe the President is alluding to the fact that all of them (lawmakers and executive) are affected. Those in the executive cadre do not even have measure for their salaries. They take the money as they like.
“Buhari may be saying what is relative to the executive plan. But there is no comparative basis for him to say that lawmakers are not overpaid. Their allowances alone cannot be compared to any earning in Nigeria. As far as labour is concerned, the payment for lawmakers and those in the executive arm is beyond reach.”
The labour leader described Buhari’s statement as deceitful to Nigerians.
He added, “He cannot deceive us to say that the legislators are not being overpaid. He should provide evidence where a country’s legislature is earning more than what those in Nigeria are earning. They are using the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission to increase their salaries.
“We are all drawing from the resources of the nation, whether you are a career or political officer. In other climes, productivity is used as the criterion to determine earning. What role is the legislative arm playing in the nation’s development? We believe that they do not create wealth for Nigeria, labour does that.”
Nigerians lack good representation despite NASS’ huge pay
Faulting the President, the NBA secretary said despite the lawmakers’ huge pay, Nigerians still had to yearn for good representation.
He stated, “The members of the National Assembly of Nigeria are reported to be amongst the best remunerated parliamentarians in the world. The question is, ‘are their pay realistic and considerate of the present economic condition of Nigeria?
“It is time that political leaders started redefining the true essence of service and sacrifice. In a country where the national minimum salary is N30,000 per month the remunerations of our parliamentarians would be difficult to justify.
“In spite of their very comfortable remunerations Nigerians are still yearning for quality representation. Corruption is on the increase. There is insecurity everywhere.
The Executive Director, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, Auwal Rafsanjani, said Buhari’s statement was surprising.
He stated, “ This statement of Mr President is not consistent with his claim for financial prudence by public officials. Also it is not based on any economic capability of our income. Again, this statement is tantamount to deepening electoral violence as all you need to do is get yourself into an elective position because you have huge salaries and allowances waiting for you without any accountability or justification.”
A United States based activist, Smart Ajaja, described Buhari’s statement as saddening. “We can’t trust our governments and the pronouncements of the drivers of our governments,” he stated.
Punch
