Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, recently shed light on the often misunderstood topic of legislative salaries and allowances in Nigeria.
Addressing attendees at the Legislative Open Week in Abuja, Dogara revealed that during his tenure from 2015 to 2019, his monthly salary as Speaker was below N400,000. This revelation comes amidst widespread perceptions that federal lawmakers earn extravagant sums.
“Many Nigerians believe that legislators earn humongous salaries and allowances,” Dogara remarked, countering this assumption by disclosing his own earnings. “My salary wasn’t even up to N400,000 monthly,” he clarified.
The former Speaker went further to discuss the allowances allocated to him during his tenure, noting that despite a reported N25 million monthly allocation, none of this money ever made its way into his personal accounts. “I didn’t take a single Naira home,” he emphasized, highlighting the stringent accountability and public expectations placed upon lawmakers.
Dogara’s transparency echoes previous statements made by Senator Shehu Sani in 2018, where he disclosed that senators received N13.5 million monthly as running costs, with a base salary of approximately N750,000 per month.
These insights into legislative finances provide a nuanced view of the financial responsibilities and public scrutiny faced by lawmakers in Nigeria. Dogara’s testimony underscores the challenges of managing public funds and meeting constituent expectations, dispelling myths surrounding legislative compensation.
The Legislative Open Week serves as a platform for fostering transparency and understanding between lawmakers and the public, ensuring accountability and effective governance.
In conclusion, Dogara’s candid revelations challenge public perceptions and encourage a deeper understanding of the complexities involved in legislative compensation and governance in Nigeria.
His remarks pave the way for informed discussions on legislative reform and financial accountability in public service.
Comments