Senators Reject Pay Cut In Salaries, Allowances

L-R: President Muhammadu Buhari (middle), former Head of State and Chairman of 2015 Election Peace Committee, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd)(4th left), Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (5th left), Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III (5th right), National President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor (4th right), John Cardinal Onaiyekan (3rd right) and other members of the committee, during their courtesy visit to President Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Tuesday . Photo: NAN

The Senate on Wednes
day rejected the reduction of its salaries and allowances as recommended by its Finance Committee.
The Tide learnt that the upper House of the National Assembly suspended consideration of the committee’s reports following sharp disagreements among members over the pay cut proposal.
The Finance Committee headed by Senator James Manager had recommended that the salaries and allowances of Senators be slashed to reflect the economic reality in the country.
The committee, it was learnt, also recommended the publication of all payments accruable to each senator on a quarterly basis.
However, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, at plenary, explained that “Senate in closed session deliberated on the report of the finance committee but agreed to stand it down for further legislative input”.
Throwing more light on the Senate’s decision, the senate’s spokesperson, Senator Dino Melaye, while addressing journalists after plenary, said further action on the report was put on hold because the Senate budget was an integral part of the National Assembly budget being jointly shared by seven bodies.
According to Melaye, “the Senate today in closed-door session discussed the report of the ad hoc committee on finances of the Senate.
“After due deliberations by the senators, we come to the conclusion that since the budget of the Senate is not independent of the budget of the National Assembly, the budget of the House of Representatives is also inclusive.
“We have the management, we have the National Institute for Legislative Studies; we have even the Public Conduct Commission; the National Assembly Civil Service Commission, and over 3,000 legislative aides, that are beneficiaries of the N120 bn annual budget.
“Therefore, we have agreed that we should consult amongst other arms that share the budget of the National Aseembly before we would draw conclusion on the report.
“So, the resolution is that we are going to interface with the House of Representatives so that we can be on the same page on the report as presented. This is the resolution of the senate today in a closed-door session”.

Boye Salau