Forum: Are Nigerian House of Representatives Members too well paid?

Members of the Nigerian House of Representative get $65,500 in monthly salary and allowances which is about what a British MP gets in a year. Are they contributing that much to the development of Nigeria or is there something else going on?

 

Daisy Adele, Director Daizons Consulting Llc Inc, Maplewood - United States: ' For a country stricken with high level of poverty amidst its vast resources, $65,000 per month is un-imaginable. The fragile nature of the Nigerian economy should be handled with greater care especially by the people in power who have pledged their service but if dis-service to the country is the order of the day, we need to re-evaluate our values and also question the sustainability of our economy. It is obvious that something else is going in the house. I believe it is time for our Reps to be responsible and accountable to the people who put them in charge.'

 

Yaya Akanni Ogunrinde, CEO YAMOJ Nigeria Limited, Lagos - Nigeria: 'I do not believe that they are contributing that much to the development of the country to justify the jumbo pay they take home everyday in addition to both kickback and kick front they collect from all sources. Our legislators whose job is supposed to be on a part-time basis and be collecting stipends insist on collecting the money that should have been channeled to capital development and even go to the extent of re-adjusting the national budget to suit their selfish and parochial interests and this I consider a NATIONAL TRAGEDY. All hands must be on deck to assist the Government of President Jonathan and save it from these HAWKS and I hope that the new set of Legislators will be more civilized and reasonable.'

 

Aisha Ingawa, Senior Technical officer Energy Commission of Nigeria, Lagos - Nigeria: 'Contributing? to the development of nigeria? I dont think so but rather they are contributing to the mis management of the nigerian funds. Alot needs to be done for the people of nigeria, we have a long way to go,the level of poverty is very high, there is lack of basic amenities for the people of the country, alot can be done with N10,218000 ($65,500) which is just one member's salary a month. They dont fight for the good of there people but for their selfish interest, moneys for project development of there constituency goes to there pockets not to the projects so how else are they contributing? If you should ask me who do i think should be paid such amount i'll tell you teachers, they are the bedrock of development, because i believe if our teachers are giving this amount we will be free of corruption in schools and we will have a refined educational system and development.'

 

Chris Offokansi, Country Manager Halliburton, Lagos - Nigeria: 'Can anyone tell me how many laws they have passed in the last eight (80) years? And if there are, are there not the ones that aided in the increase of their pay? Which of the s-called legislations have assisted in any way to emeliorate the suffering of the masses of this country. They collect over $65K/month, while over 70% of the citizens of this country live below $1k/day. It seems as if they are lesser citizen!

Can someone tell me of any constituency project started and finished by any member of the house? Nothing is at sight, and nothing is going to come from any of them.  For instance, the only thing they succeded in doing with the 2011 budget was to increase their own "loot" and the presidency signed it up.

Something drastic needs to be done against those illitrates; and soon too.'

 

Clarkson Nnadi, Managing Director Associated Biotechnology Ltd, Lagos - Nigeria:

'The salary of the house of representative members is outrageous and unthinkable. All I can say is that these people are cowboys and opportunists. What else can one expect from such a motley crowd.
The last speaker of the  house is helping the EFCC presently in an investigation of missing N10 billion. Scandalous! The present speaker who is implicated in the whole shoddy deal has gone to Court to seek protection from arrest by the EFCC.
The system is corrupt and lays the foundation for this corruption by placing an unusually high premium on winning elections. Even the banks lend money officially to these gladiators to WIN elections. It is funny watching them say the pledge, with their consciences scarified, their eyes on the treasury and their hands on the economic jugular of the nation.'

 

This article was originally posted on Nigeria Business Communities

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