Legislators’ Jumbo Pay, Drain To National Resources – Lawmaker

A Lawmaker representing Ikole 1 (PDP) in Ekiti State House of Assembly, Chief Morakinyo Adebayo, has called for a 50 per cent reduction in the salary and allowances of all legislators, arguing that the current salaries of legislators and political office holders were drawn from the resources of the country.

Adebayo, who made the call on Wednesday in Ado-Ekiti in an interview with newsmen said the legislators’ jumbo pay was unacceptable.

According to him, “It has got to a stage that only the political class benefit from the resources of the country. “Therefore, I would ask that those who want this country to prosper must be making effort to ensure that in the 2011 dispensation, what the lawmakers take as salaries and allowances be slashed drastically by 50 per cent.

Adebanjo continued, “At least, it will reduce the habit of do or die of our politicians, especially those who are contesting now, it will help to determine who is going there to help his people or going for personal gains.

“Though what the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Sanusi Lamido Sanusi said may not be totally true, but the fact is that what is paid to political functionaries is avoidably a drain on the resources of the country,” Adebayo added.

While noting that in most foreign countries, lawmakers were on part time, Adebayo suggested that legislative duties should be on a part time basis in the country.

“I know that what is being paid to political office holders now is not in the interest of the system.

“I think the country is in a very bad situation, the tenure of lawmakers should be reviewed to be part time and if not, daily attendance should be introduced.

“The day they asked the CBN governor to appear before the Senate, 68 senators were not there out of 109,” he said.

Speaking on the newly established federal university in his constituency in Ikole-Ekiti, Adebayo thanked the Federal Government for locating the university in the town.

The lawmaker added that it would ensure rapid transformation of the community and the state in general.