Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has revealed the amount he earned as Speaker of the House.
The ex-Speaker who made the revelation yesterday said his total allowance in office was N25 million and salary N400,000 monthly.
Dogara said the clarification has become necessary, following public misconception of the salaries on Reps members.
He, therefore, faulted members of the group who think that members of the National Assembly earned huge salaries and allowances.
The former Speaker made the disclosure during a Goodwill message at the two days ‘House Open Week 2024’. The event was organized by the House of Representatives as part of the celebration of 25 years of unbroken democracy in the country.
Speaking at the event, Dogara said it was important Nigerians allowed their representatives to work. He also warned them to limit the financial demands on the Reps.
Dogara pointed that the misconception of huge salaries and allowances by Nigerians had given the National Assembly a negative image. He said this is to the extent that lawmakers were called thieves at public fora.
Narrating his experience, the former Speaker said he suffered the same fate as a member of the House of Representatives. He said, “Because of the belief by Nigerians that lawmakers collect millions as salaries and allowances monthly at the expense of Nigerian workers.
Dogara noted that, his salary was N400,000 while he had the sum of N25 million monthly as the Speaker of the 8th Assembly.
He said: “While I was speaker, my salary was N400, 000 and my total allowance was N25 million. I told my accountant to open a separate account for the allowances. And I never for once took any money out of that account. Everything that came into that account was used to cater for the needs of constituents.
“My accountant complained of the level of demand on the account. And I told him if the money there is finished, borrow, when money comes in, you return to where you had taken money from.
“I am saying this so Nigerians will give their legislators breathing space. And for them to know that the narrative is not true about members pay.”
Dogara stated that as a result of the speculations about the earnings of the members of the 8th House, he ordered that the breakdown of the House budget be made public. This included what he was entitled to as the Speaker.
He, however, regretted that the practice discontinued, when he left office. And this, he said, has given room for the continuation of speculations and outright lies about the earnings and entitlements of lawmakers till date.
Dogara further acknowledged the notion that Nigeria’s democracy was expensive. He added that many countries were complaining about the cost that comes with the practice and maintenance of democracy.
The former Speaker, therefore, challenged the country’s political scientists to help fashion out an alternative. He urged them to come up with a homegrown form that would be less expensive and meet the yearnings and needs of Nigerians.
source: Vanguard
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