Senators’ Salary: FG, Politicians Risk Provoking Citizens, US Lawmaker Warns

A Nigerian-born United States legislator, Beroro Efekoro, representing Albany County in the 7th District of New York, has criticized the salaries and allowances of Nigeria’s National Assembly members, describing them as outrageous.

Efekoro made these remarks in a statement issued from New York on Thursday, addressing the ongoing controversy surrounding the remuneration of Nigerian lawmakers. Concerns over these salaries were reignited following reports that members of the House of Representatives allegedly disclosed during a visit to former President Olusegun Obasanjo that they had set their own pay, leading to widespread public disapproval.

In response to the growing backlash, the Nigerian Senate denied the claims, insisting that National Assembly members do not determine their own salaries. However, the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) later clarified that each senator receives a monthly salary and allowances totaling N1.063 million.

Efekoro dismissed the RMAFC’s explanation as a mere formality. “The one who made the allegations was a former senator and knows exactly how much he was receiving,” Efekoro stated. “Even those at the Commission who issued the press release are aware that the official figures are just for show.”

He further warned that Nigerian politicians are pushing the populace to a breaking point. “The Nigerian government and politicians continue to push Nigerians to the wall but forget that Nigerians never forget. Nigerians only let things slide for as long as we can bear,” Efekoro cautioned.

The US lawmaker also urged Nigerians to support the administration of President Bola Tinubu as it grapples with the nation’s challenges. However, he issued a stern warning to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, to refrain from intimidating senators who wish to hold the president accountable.

“I still have faith in the administration of President Bola Tinubu, but the National Assembly must not become a rubber stamp for the President,” Efekoro emphasized. He called on Nigerians to give the Tinubu administration more time to address the economic problems inherited from the previous administration. At the same time, he urged the government to be transparent about how much has been saved from the removal of fuel subsidies and how those funds are being utilized.

“The administration needs to clearly state their plan for the economy and keep Nigerians informed about their intentions, or risk facing a potential revolution,” Efekoro concluded.