Ihvonbere said it was unfortunate that some constituents still believe that constituency money is given to lawmakers, adding that even his own constituency believed the narrative.
By Jeffrey Agbo
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, on Wednesday said federal lawmakers are not as rich as the general public thinks.
Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda, representing the speaker, made the statement at an interactive session with the House press corps organised by the ad hoc committee on media and public affairs.
“You have heard that members go home with N30 million every week or that we earn more than American lawmakers.
“And when you tell people that these are not correct, we can’t achieve success because it is coming from us, but when it comes from the media, people will believe it because it came from you,” Abbas said.
The speaker said one of the cardinal points of the 10th Assembly was putting round peg in a round hole, adding that the parliament remained the unsung arm of government and their success depends on the media.
He described the media as a partner in progress of the Nigeria project, while urging the media to reciprocate the gesture.
“If democracy must succeed, the parliament must be strengthened through the media. We are not asking you not to give information but give correct and accurate information,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the minority caucus in the House, Kingsley said their role as minority was to ensure that the House stood straight by checking the ruling party.
“If criticisms are not constructive, that is dangerous to us. Let your information not destroy us, but should right the wrong in society,” he said.
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Khadijat Bukar-Abba, Chairman of the ad hoc Committee on Media and Public Affairs, said the House would sustain efforts to engage everyone with a stake in the affairs of the House and the committee.
“Together, we can make the House of Reps and Committee proud in discharging her responsibilities,” she said.
On his part, Julius Ihvonbere, the Majority Leader of the House, lamented that the lawmakers were not telling their stories as they should.
He said the 10th House would strengthen those that would work on media and media-related issues to put their stories out and not a recycling of the usual perspectives.
He said it was unfortunate that some constituents still believe that constituency money is given to lawmakers, adding that even his own constituency believed the narrative.
According to him, this time, there will be an effort to pay attention and define the narrative.
