Labour and CSOs demand reduction in lawmakers’ massive allowances, warn citizens angry at unjustified millions of naira monthly allowances amid general hardship
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Labour and other civil society organisations (CSOs) have poured cold water on the 50 per cent pay cut from their N600,000 monthly salary for six months which House of Representatives members agreed yesterday, that amounts to N108 million a month and N648 million in total to help alleviate hard hunger across the country.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), ActionAid, and Yiaga Africa all chorused the problem is not with the salaries of the lawmakers but their huge allowances which should be slashed by half to make meaningful impact.
The lawmakers also pleaded with youths mulling a mega hunger protest for 10 days from August 1 to exercise more patience with the Bola Tinubu administration in addressing the hardship faced by all citizens.
Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who moved the motion for his colleagues to support the government with 50 per cent of their salaries for six months, argued protest is no solution to tackle hunger in the country.
“Solution is not found in raising placards, Rome is not built in a day. Let us give support to all policies of government to better the lives of citizens,” he said.
“This time is calling for sacrifice. People here are willing to make sacrifices. Please bear with the government a little. Let’s make sacrifices with our salaries.”
Below are the reactions of CSOs, first reported by Vanguard:
Andrew Mamedu ActionAid Nigeria Country Director)
“Definitely, it is a good step, one of the things civil societies and citizens are requesting. However, it is just the tip of the iceberg, a drop in the ocean in terms of turning things around but this is about they identifying with the citizens, and this is one aspect.
”There are a couple of things, one, looking at their allowances, it is not just the salary, we are looking at the allowances, the issue of constituency projects. We sometimes shy away from, the issues of the constituency projects the House of Rep members benefit because they go about it the way their constituencies will benefit.
“But it is a good step, the executive has to look at their side; we need to look at the ministries, the Oronsaye Report, the number of advisers, ministers, the vehicles, the whole running of government, we need to be very deliberate in cutting down the cost of governance, and that is what Nigerians expect.”
Anonymous NLC official
“The salary is not the problem but their allowances. Their salaries are just about 10 per cent of their allowances. We don’t have problems with their salaries. They should reduce their allowances by 50 per cent.
“Why are they talking about six months? They should reduce their allowances and allow the reduction to run till the economy improves. The executive should also do so, pending when the economy improves.”
Samson Itodo (Yiaga Africa Executive Director)
“It is a symbolic action, it shows they are feeling the nation but this is not what Nigerians are looking for.
“Nigerians deserve more from the National Assembly, especially on how it is holding the executive to account for some of the economic policies they make.
“How to address this rising cost of commodities in the market, it’s about the kind of policy the government actually introduces. So, it’s beyond reducing their salaries by 50 per cent.
“While that is appreciated, I don’t know to what extent that will impact our overall GDP or how that will impact on the cost of commodities in the market because the prices of food items are skyrocketing on a daily basis, that’s what Nigerians want to see.
“They want to see the prices of foodstuff and fuel go down. These are the big issues that Nigerians are grappling with.”
Andrew Mamedu (ActionAid Nigeria Country Director)
“Definitely, it is a good step, one of the things civil societies and citizens are requesting. However, it is just the tip of the iceberg, a drop in the ocean in terms of turning things around but this is about they identifying with the citizens, and this is one aspect.
”There are a couple of things. One, looking at their allowances, it is not just the salary, we are looking at the allowances, the issue of constituency projects. We sometimes shy away from the issues of the constituency projects the House of Reps members benefit because they go about it the way their constituencies will benefit.
“But it [the pay slash] is a good step, the executive has to look at their side. We need to look at the ministries, the Oronsaye Report, the number of advisers, ministers, the vehicles, the whole running of government, we need to be very deliberate in cutting down the cost of governance, and that is what Nigerians expect.”
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