Daily Advent Nigeria

Angry Nigerians lament as Senate President Lawan asks for more money

Angry Nigerians lament as Senate President Lawan asks for more money

The social media has been buzzing since Nigeria’s Senate President Ahmed Lawan said his office needs more money for him to adequately discharge his duties as the head of the Upper Legislative Chamber.

Lawan who emerged the President of the Senate on June 11, 2019, said lawmaking is a serious business and as such the National Assembly needs more funds to make it function effectively.

It was gathered that he stated this when The Senators Forum visited him in his office in Abuja. To convince Nigerians that nothing is done in secrecy, he revealed that he receives N750, 000 as monthly salary.

That hasn’t gone down well with Nigerians as hundreds of them berated him for making fresh demand when it’s in public domain that Nigerian lawmakers are one of the highest paid in the World.

Recalled that a former Nigerian Senator representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani, had in 2018 for the first time revealed each of 109 Senators in Nigeria receives N13.5 million as monthly as “running cost” which doesn’t include monthly consolidated salary and allowances.

A cross section of Twitter users condemned the fresh demand by the Yobe Senator, saying it was early for a lawmaker who assumed office less than a month.

APC NEC MEETING 3. R-L; President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, APC Nstional Chairman, Comrade Oshiomhole, APC National Leader Sen hmed Bola Tinubu, APC Senate Leader, Senator Ahmed Lawan and others during APC NEC Meeting held at the Party Heeadquater in Abuja. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE. AUGUST 30 2018.

“Tell that man that our brains are not idle. Why do ex-governors rush to Senate, not even the House, after leaving government houses?,” Izu Onwuka tweeted.

Another Twitter user, Adams Smithfield, said Lawan doesn’t have justification to say the National Assembly is poorly funded, “Basic salary minus bogus sitting allowance, inconvenience allowance, housing allowance, newspaper allowance, constituency allowance, security vote etc”

To Samuel Joseph, who described members of the National Assembly as deceivers tweeted, “Please people how much did he buy the form from his party plus how much did he use for his campaigns? The question is check 750,000 times12 times 4 =36million who is fooling who? Deceivers”

Another Twitter user, Adamu Shuwa, described as unjust salaries and allowances of the Senators.

“You would explain this… Each senator of @NGRSenate will receive N40.5m in 3 months as overhead allowance Each member of @HouseNGR will also receive N30m in 3 months 109 senators will get N4.41bn as an overhead allowance in 3 months 360 Reps will get N10.8bn in 3 months #UNJUST!”

“This is the reason why he fought so hard to be in that position after seeing Saraki’s monthly paycheck. He wants a bigger paycheck. Wait for the investigation of the constituency projects report to come out if properly done and Nigerians will cry,” Patrick Odiaka tweeted.

Image result for Ahmed Lawan presides over Senate

“With due respect, I find it pertinent to inform my SP that a larger number of Nigerians earn below N50k as salary monthly. If your office is made less attractive like ordinary jobs in Nigeria, I seriously doubt if you’ll vie for it. So N750k is a jumbo salary. Take a pay cut now,” tweeted @finacengr2

Also reacting, Oluwadare said, “Moreover, that you pay is too much for a public office. They should base all your salaries on minimum wages 18,600 Naira now 30,000naira. If you earn around 120,000naira monthly, you guys will make a law that will help increase of currency values.@NGRSenate”

Image result for Ahmed Lawan presides over Senate

Between 2011 and 2014, the National Assembly received N150 billion yearly but received N120 billion in 2015 according to qz.com

BudgIT’s estimation also shows that between 1999 to 2015, the National Assembly received about N1.26 trillion.