National Assembly – Lawmakers Or Salary Earners?

Bashir Idris Bichi

15 July 2011

opinion

The Daily trust of June 8, 2011 in a captioned story: “Senators upsets at 40% pay cut” reported that Senators had expressed dissatisfaction with the implementation of 40 per cent cut in overheads of the National Assembly, which they said has reduced their allowances by about half.

The report further quoted the Senate President as saying that they are to be paid about N11 million for housing, car monetisation and furniture allowance; this is against about N18.5 million which was paid to Senators of the sixth Senate.

In the same vein the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) said that the relevant Accounting Officer of any political or public officer that enjoys more than the amount prescribed by the Act, or as determined by the Commission, should be held accountable. It public knowledge that political officer holders, especially the members of the National Assembly have been criticized for enjoying more salaries more than they are legally entitled to.

The Senate said recently that they are ready for pay cut.

It is necessary to know the sources of funding the salaries and allowances of legislators whether it is from the Budget of the National assembly or from the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) of the Federal Government. If their salaries and allowances were derived from the Consolidated Revenue Fund it means that the budget cut of about 40 per cent would not affect their legitimate monthly earnings as well as their constitutional responsibilities. The Constitutions of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Section 84(2) states that: “The remuneration, salaries and allowances payable to the holders of the offices so mentioned shall be a charge upon the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation.”

One may wonder the reasons for fat budget of the National Assembly when they mostly only sit twice in a week to deliberate on motions and bills from the Executives, Private and from legislators themselves. We are aware that most time, the federal legislators are always on the move travelling abroad for seminars and workshop rather than legislative assignment in the hollow chambers.

The newly elected members of the National Assembly should also tread softly to avoid the pitfalls of those that came before them. It was ridiculous that the newly inaugurated legislators requested for three weeks recess due to the inability of the management of the National Assembly to pay their 28 days DTA Allowance. That’s a bad signal from the 7th National Assembly. If they could fund huge electoral expenses, why wouldn’t they exercise patience and collect refunds of their entitlement later as an average Nigerian civil servant does after employment? Unfortunate when a graduate accepted an offer of appointment in the public service, he has to wait for three months before collecting the salary.

We could recall how the outgoing Senators acquire official vehicles for monitoring and oversight functions for personal use which could have been left behind for incoming legislators. This is in contravention of the monetization policy of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) which monetises Housing, Furniture, vehicle maintenance while loans could only be provided for purchase of cars by legislators at the market.

If outgoing legislators could be acquiring official vehicles at give-away prices, we should know that the incoming leadership of legislative chambers would be glad to purchase new ones at exorbitant prices and end off selling it to members towards the end of their tenures. There are many reasons for some of the scandalous budgeting for National Assembly which always scandalise their reputation at the end.

The 7th National Assembly should dignify themselves by facing the challenge of lawmaking for the benefit of the citizenry rather than concentrating in making fortunes for themselves and families. Nigerians are really watching as we must hold each one of them accountable for economic woes.

Bichi wrote from Kundila Housing Estate, Kano

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