By Zik Gbemre
When recent reports revealed that a debate on a report for the review of Senate finances ended in a stalemate, as sharp disagreement and strong opposition reigned as many senators reacted to what they saw as planned reduction in their salaries and allowances, we could not help but if our Nigerian lawmakers were living in a different country as to not understand and see the ‘harsh economic realities’ facing the nation at the moment and the need for all and sundry to buckle their belts and make the necessary sacrifices to manage the situation.
The said disagreement was all confirmed when Senate President Bukola Saraki announced that “the Senate in a closed session deliberated on the report for the review of its finances and approved to stand down the report for additional input.” The senators had, in a closed session and for more than two hours, deliberated on the Senator James Manager-led Ad hoc committee on the Review of Senate Finances but could not take a decision after a very heated debate. It was not certain, at the last plenary whether the Senate would re-open debate on the matter in the nearest future particularly as the upper legislative chamber has already proceeded on its yearly end of session which could last till the end of September 2015. According to the spokesman of the Senate, Senator Dino Melaye, said: “After some deliberations, we reached the conclusion that since the budget of the Senate is not independent of the National Assembly budget, which also includes the budget of the House of Representatives, National Assembly Management, National Assembly Service Commission, we agreed on the need to consult with all these organs of the National Assembly before we conclude.”
We cannot understand what they need to consult for before realizing that their salaries and allowances are outrageous and drastically needs to be reduced. Was any consultation made before the said huge salaries and allowances was allocated and paid to them through government treasury? Why all the argument and disagreement in the first place over their pay cut? From the drama going on in the National Assembly over their pay cut, it clearly shows that these lawmakers are there at the National Assembly not to represent the interest of the Nigerian masses they are supposed to be representing, but they are there to represent their ‘stomachs and self-centered interests’.
Saraki had, upon his election as Senate President, announced that the Eighth Senate would review its finances to reflect the prevailing economic situation of the country. Among the recommendations of the James Manager-led ad hoc committee, is one which seeks to make the finances of the upper chamber very open and transparent in addition to slashing legislators’ earnings. It was gathered that many senators expressed the view that the question of making Senate finances open did not arise since it was already accommodated in law. Others were said to have condemned the planned cut in salaries because they believed that such actions would never change the perception of Nigerians about the National Assembly. A senator disclosed that Saraki’s swift action saved the report from being thrown out as only a few members supported the leadership in canvassing the new policy which a majority of senators see as quite unnecessary.
Like we said earlier, the disposition of the Nigerian lawmakers over this ‘pay cut’ issue clearly demonstrates that their ‘real intent’ to be at the National Assembly, is clearly for the wrong reasons. However, we are not surprised with their disapproving reactions over their pay cut, considering the fact that our lawmakers, like most Nigerian politicians, usually spend so much money to ‘acquire their seat of power’ that at the end of the day, they hope to recuperate and recover same once they are in power. This is also the reason why many of them do not feel obligated to be accountable to the people that supposedly elected them to their offices. Hence, they do whatever pleases them with reckless abandon and impunity. This has been the case with most of our past and present political leaders at both the national and State levels of government.
But on this issue of pay cut, one would have expected our Nigerian lawmakers to follow the good example already set by President Muhammadu Buhari and his Vice, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo. It was on July 11, 2015 that reports revealed that President Buhari will only receive 50 percent of the salary paid to his predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan, the head of State’s spokesman Garba Shehu said in an emailed statement. The president’s decision to take a 50 percent cut was conveyed to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation on the previous day.
The annual salary of Nigeria’s president is currently set at 14,058,820 naira ($70,000, 63,500 euros), including allowances, according to the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission. Shehu said Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo would also draw only half of his salary of 12,126,290 naira per annum. The report noted that the announcement came as Africa’s supposed leading economy faces the fall-out from the slump in the global price of crude oil, which provides most of Nigeria’s government revenue, and a public outcry over the remuneration of lawmakers. Shehu said Buhari, by his action, was sending a clear message to Nigerians on the need to make sacrifices for the nation. He said having done that for himself, the President was expecting other political office holders and indeed all Nigerians to borrow a leaf from him. Shehu said, “That voluntary action of the President is pregnant with meaning. It is a message of sacrifice for national development. Since the President has done this for himself, he is expecting that others will join him in making sacrifices for their fatherland.”
In a related development also, President Buhari had turned down an offer by the Federal Government to procure five new armored Mercedes Benz S-600 (V222) cars for his use. The cars, which total cost is put at about N400m, were planned to be purchased by the State House. The President’s move on his accepting only 50 percent of his salary, many believe, is likely to add pressure on members of Nigerian Parliament and State Governors to follow suit. But from what we see going on the National Assembly, it appears they are not moved at all neither are they ready to part with any kobo of their obviously outrageous salaries/remunerations. This is rather unfortunate.
Apart from the fact that it has become absolutely necessary for the Nigerian government to cut down its size at all levels, it is also expedient for the government and our lawmakers at the national and State levels to drastically reduce its recurrent expenditure on emoluments and salaries of its public office holders. We can imagine this situation where a small number of our political leaders as lawmakers, are swallowing the government’s recurrent expenditure to the detriment of capital expenditure that would provide developmental strides for the over 160 million people of this country. Comparatively, when we consider the salary of a senate member of the National Assembly, compared to that of their counterparts in other parts of the world, we would be amazed at the disparity.
The decision to review the current salaries and allowances of the nations’ public office holders has received approval of many members of the Nigerian public who have complained that Nigerian law makers were about the highest paid worldwide.
For instance, the Senate President has a total Annual Basic Salary of N2, 484, 242.50 and Annual Allowance of N6, 210, 606. 25 , making a total Annual salary of N8, 694, 848.75 which brings the monthly salary alone to about N724, 570.75. In addition, he collects 250 per cent of his Annual Salary as Constituency Allowance. However, his vehicles and their maintenance are provided by the federal government. Similarly, his domestic staff, entertainment, utilities, security responsibility, Legislative Aids, House Maintenance as well as a Special Adviser and a Personal Assistant are provided by the federal government. Similarly Robe (clothing) and newspapers are provided for the Senate President. The Deputy Senate President enjoys the same benefits except that his Annual Basic Salary stands at N 2,309,166.75, total allowance N 5,772,916.8, bringing total annual salary to 8,082,083.63 and a monthly pay of N 673,506.97. The Senate Majority Leader receives a salary of N12, 968, 960. The Minority leader receives a total annual salary of N12, 908, 168? The same applies to Committee Chairmen. Incidentally in the last administration almost all Senators were Chairmen of various committees. The allowances received by the members of the Upper legislative chamber is far more than their salaries indicate. For instance, each Senator receives 75 per cent of the annual salary as allowance for a vehicle and its maintenance. They collect another 75 per cent of their salaries for domestic staff; 30 per cent for entertainment; 30 per cent for utilities; 25 per cent for robe (clothing); and 250 per cent as Constituency Allowance. Others include, another allowance unspecified which stands at 53 per cent; newspapers 15 per cent; Personal Assistance, 24 per cent; and House maintenance 5 per cent.
In addition, the Leader receives 10 per cent for Responsibility; Minority Leader 7; while the Whip and Committee chairmen receive 5 per cent for the same purpose. Ordinary senators receive a basic salary of 2,026,400.00; annual allowance of N10,739,920.00 , bring it to a total of N 12,766,320.00? Other non-regular allowances include 300 per cent gratuity for the Senate President. All the Senators who have just finished their terms at the 7th National Assembly are therefore entitled to 300 per cent of the annual salaries as gratuity. The Deputy Senate President gets N32, 000 per night as Duty Tour Allowance. Senators receive $ 1, 000 as estacode and a Duty Tour allowance of N23, 000 per night.
At the House of Representatives, the Speaker receives a total annual salary of N4,334,942.50. Just like the Senate President, the federal government provides his vehicles and their maintenance. His domestic staff, entertainment, utilities, security responsibility, Legislative Aids, House Maintenance, as well as a Special Adviser and a Personal Assistant are provided by the federal government. Similarly Robe (clothing) and newspapers are provided for the Senate President. He receives 75 per cent of his salary as constituency allowance. The Deputy Speaker whose annual salary stands at N4,002,309.94 enjoys similar benefits as the Speaker. The Majority Leader of the House, the Minority Leader, the Chief Whip and Chairmen of Committees receive annual salaries of N 6, 352,680.00. In addition, they receive 50 per cent of their salaries as Vehicle and Maintenance allowance; another 50 per cent for domestic staff; 10 per cent for utilities and another 10 per cent for House maintenance.
In addition, they collect 75 per cent for constituency allowance, 25 per cent for personal Assistant. Other members enjoy similar allowances. The Deputy Speaker receives $750 and N30, 000 for estacode and Duty Tour, respectively. Members receive $550 and N21,000 for estacode and domestic trips, respectively. Houses of Assembly Speakers of the State Houses of Assembly enjoy all the benefits as their federal counterpart where virtually all they need are provided with public funds. However, their annual salaries stand at N 2,049,843.75 and a Constituency Allowance of N25 per cent of their Annual Salaries. Deputy Speaker receives N 1,807,478.13 and 25 per cent of same as constituency allowance. Members at the House of Assemblies receive annual salaries of N 2,473,866.25. In addition, they receive 20 per cent for vehicles; 25 per cent for domestic staff, 10 per cent for utilities; 25 per cent each for robe, constituency, Personal Assistant and 5 per cent for newspapers.
Although political office holders in the country are among the highest paid government officials in the world, our correspondent reports that the worry of many Nigerians is not what they earn officially but what accrues to them through self-appropriation and corruption. The budget of the National Assembly is never broken into components and efforts to get them to break down the budget have not yielded the required result even after the invocation of the Freedom of Information Act. Lawmakers are known to collect huge quarterly allocations, some of which are ostensibly designated for constituency projects. The constituency allowance is different from the constituency project fund. Constituency allowance is paid for the maintenance of constituency office and contact while constituency project fund are appropriated to enable the lawmakers to execute projects in their constituencies.
From the breakdown above, one will immediately understand the reason why Nigerian politics is christened ‘DO OR DIE AFFAIR’ for the money seems enough for any insane politician, as it seems we have, to want to end his opponent breath at election. No wonder we have had Senate Presidents who had turned their public post into life affair stuff. No wonder Senatorial and Representative seats have turned ‘hereditarily in nature’ for after the said 2 terms the seats should be left for friends/loyalist/relatives or children. No wonder we kept having boxers and wrestlers in National Assembly instead of them representing the nation in several weight titles and championships. No wonder ‘serving’ the people is a must by some hypocrites’ i.e “serving us among themselves”. No wonder the word ‘politician’ is now a profession in our country. No wonder the country is said to go bankrupt and always in huge debt.
The breakdown is very much breathtaking, for the sight of “hardship allowance” will continue to leave you dazed, the hearing of “entertainment allowance” might make your eardrums reverberating, the several gratuity will make you wonder if you need pair of glasses or not, the “newspapers allowance” will make you ask yourself if these guys are reading the whole books in the world, or if they are trying to build the world’s best library or maybe they are on their way to earn PhDs or even Professorship.
This extravagancy by government has made Nigeria the most wasteful country in the world. It has made Nigeria public offices the highest paying in the world even turning U.S president’s annual salary ($400,000) into peanut. Just look at the amount on “constituency allowance” for Nigeria so called lawmakers. The annoying thing is that this constituency allowance has never been spent or hardly spent by any Senator or House of Representative member in their various constituencies and wards. We once heard a Senator said provision of basic amenities and co are responsibilities of the executives alone while his (theirs) is to make laws.
On several occasions, we have called on the need for Nigerians to regularly re-appraise and re-examine the integrity, character and personality of those representing their various constituencies in the National Assembly, particularly those in the Lower Chamber – the House of Representatives. It is not everybody that puts on good cloths, speaks relatively good English like an orator, and drives good cars or lives in affluence wealth that has the integrity, character and charisma to be a leader. The National Assembly as the Legislative Arm of government can be regarded as the ‘deciding factor’ that enacts laws meant for the progress and development of the country. They are also in the position to ‘checkmate’ the ‘excesses’ arising from the Executive Arm of government. Hence, it is imperative that men/women that will make up the National Assembly should be persons of integrity, high moral uprightness and who are ready to make ‘sacrifices for their people.’ Unfortunately, this has not been the case with the Nigerian National Assembly and its members. Every now and then, they are embedded with one controversy or the other. If it is not allegations of bribery and other corrupt practices of great proportions, it will be dramas of fisticuffs and free-for-all fights or gross misconduct and mis-appropriation of public funds. Imagine a situation where one lawmaker would have close to 50 aides (which includes Special Assistants, Advisers etc), and bodyguards combined who usually move with the lawmaker in their convoys wherever he/she goes. When such numbers of ‘unnecessary personnel’ are under the payroll of the lawmaker, how will their emoluments and salaries ever satisfy them?
Nigerians finds it appalling that the Nigerian National Assembly members are still the highest paid lawmakers in the world, when the Minimum Wage in the country is merely N18, 000. The argument about the jumbo pay of Nigerian lawmakers at both the State and national levels has a way of degenerating into a farce, with the beneficiaries, the legislators, often adding insult to injury. Not only do they often fail to disclose the exact figure, they even justify their sumptuous pay with the so-called ‘enormous national duty’, the non-performance of which is their signature. One wonders what duty or responsibility the honourable members are discharging to warrant such annual appropriation! The reality of their performance is even a greater embarrassment: empty seats during sessions, merry-go-round on non-conclusive inquiries which are often turned into rent-seeking exercises. It is even more scandalous that they are paid sumptuously for the sinecure they call responsibility. They are the recipient of unimaginable allowances outside basic salaries, including foreign and local travel, recess, utilities, furniture, constituency allowance, and vehicle loan as well as vehicle maintenance, and even a ‘hardship allowance’ among others. Also, it is the practice that under the pretext of statutory transfer the National Assembly are allocated huge sums which details are never made public.
They enjoy these privileges for doing nothing and against the backdrop of a minimum wage of N18000 for an average worker, unpaid public servants, and millions of jobless graduates who roam the streets and increasing social crises; like the last year deaths of about 16 applicants that went for the Nigerian Immigration Service recruitment exercise. The unimpressive recurrent expenditure pegged at 81.6 per cent in the 2012 budget is overweighed by the salacious outlay on the legislators. The end result is that nothing is left for capital expenditure. It should be said with all emphasis that such thoughtlessness as demonstrated by our lawmakers’ disposition on their pay cut, is the very basis for the call for reform of the national legislature. There is indeed a compelling need to rethink the form and content of the legislature. And it is to be noted that Nigeria national income cannot sustain the gluttony of its lawmakers. A step towards its reform must be backed by the need to reduce legislative reward to merely sitting allowance without a basic salary component and it should be structured to be part-time. As it has been advocated times without number, the country does not need a bicameral legislature. It is a waste of public funds and it should be reorganized or streamlined into just one chamber. The Senegalese example is there for all to emulate. That country went back to a unicameral legislature to save resources for other compelling development goals. Nigeria can do the same here and the people will be the better for it.
Around early December 2013, the British Members of Parliament (MPs) and Cabinet rejected an 11% Pay rise authorized by the British Independent Parliament Commission, saying the pay rise was “unnecessary” since there is ‘cost of living crises’ in the UK. The British MPs also disagreed with the BBC Authority for “huge Pay-offs” of senior staff. According to the MPs, BBC top Executive staff could be held for “contempt of Parliament”. And the penalty for contempt of parliament includes prison sentence, but such cases are rear since the 19th century. They said some of the justifications for the huge pay offs had been extraordinary and this was blamed on the culture of cronyism that allowed for the liberal use of public’s money. The MPs described the huge pay offs (severance package) of senior staff of the BBC as “sweeteners”. The question now is when will Nigerian law makers see the need to cut down on their outrageous pay and allowances that are draining the nation’s purse?
We find it out of place to observe our public leaders in government circles earning millions and hundreds of millions of naira annually, when millions of Nigerians are living below one dollar (about N220) per day; when 60 percent of Nigerians do not have access to regular power supply. Even Nigerians that are privileged to earn a six digits salary figure are still ‘struggling’ to keep their heads afloat from sinking with the ‘high cost of living’. But if our economy is buoyant, and there is availability and affordability of food and basic social amenities, the issue of minimum wage will not arise in the first place. For everybody will be ‘comfortable enough’ with the much or little they earn.
Now that we have a President that has obviously demonstrated his love for the nation to sacrifice what is rightfully his in the interest of the nation, it is imperative for other public office holders, starting with our lawmakers at all levels, to follow his good example. If the States are already gearing up to adopt the policy implementation of the Treasury Single Account, TSA, as ordered at the Federal level by President Muhammadu Buhari, then our politicians, especially our lawmakers at all levels, should also emulate the President’s sacrifice on their pay. They should follow the example of President Buhari by putting the interest of the nation above their own self-centered interest.
The legislative arm of government is the most active place where the interests of the people are well represented by each lawmaker. This arm is meant to serve as a democratic watchdog on behalf of the populace, to check and balance other arms of government. Unfortunately, the legislative arm has made rubbish out of our democracy. It has preyed on tax payers’ money. So far, the said lavishing of public funds is only on the legislative side, one will want to imagine how darker other arms will be, for a thief cannot catch another thief especially if both know their ugly secrets thus checks and balance has turned into ‘cheques and balance’. Public services are meant to serve the people but in our case the people become ‘servants’ or slaves to public officers who have turned to ‘Public Masters’. For reasonable change to come to our great Nation, the government and its lawmakers at all levels seriously need to cut their ‘wasteful spending and fiscal recklessness’. Our lawmakers should learn from the past Republics are change their ways in the interest of all and sundry. As noted by Confucious (C 550-478 BC): “Study the past if you would divine the future.”
Zik Gbemre,JP.
National Coordinator
Niger Delta Peace Coalition (NDPC)
No.28, Opi Street, Ugboroke Layout, Effurun-Warri,
