A joint committee from the Senate and House of Representatives has put forward a proposal for significant salary reductions targeting top government officials, including President Bola Tinubu, members of the National Assembly, and other key political officeholders.
The proposal, unveiled during an interactive session with the Judiciary and political parties, calls for a 40% reduction in the salaries of executive members, including the President, Vice President, and other high-ranking officials. National Assembly members, such as Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, would also see their salaries reduced by 30%.
Senator Sharafadeen Alli, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters and leader of the joint committee, emphasized that the salary cuts are essential for easing the financial strain on the government and reallocating funds to critical sectors.
This proposal is part of a broader package of 35 recommendations designed to reform the electoral process and decrease the overall cost of governance. Among the recommendations is the suggestion to conduct all elections on a single day, as opposed to the current staggered schedule, which is seen as a cost-saving measure.
The committee also recommended linking continuous voter registration to the National Identity Number (NIN) to improve security and reduce expenses during voter registration.
During the session, political parties advocated for the process of appointing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman to be made more transparent by advertising the position publicly, rather than leaving the appointment solely in the hands of the executive.
These proposals come amid increasing pressure from Nigerians for the government to curb its spending, as the nation continues to face economic challenges.
