A Nigerian-born legislator in the United States, Beroro Efekoro, has strongly criticized the high salaries and allowances received by members of Nigeria’s National Assembly, describing them as “outrageous.”
Efekoro, who represents Albany County in New York’s 7th District, issued a statement from New York on Thursday, expressing his concerns over the ongoing controversy surrounding the compensation of Nigerian lawmakers.
The debate over lawmakers’ pay intensified after reports emerged that members of Nigeria’s National Assembly had allegedly set their own salaries. This claim surfaced following a visit by some members of the House of Representatives to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, sparking widespread public concern and debate across the country.
In response, the Nigerian Senate issued a statement on Sunday denying that National Assembly members determine their own salaries. Despite this, the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission revealed that each Nigerian senator receives a monthly salary and allowances totaling N1.063 million.
Efekoro was not convinced by this explanation, suggesting that the official figures might not reflect the reality.
“The one who made the allegations was a former senator and knows how much he was receiving. Even the commission, the person who made the press statement, knows that the breakdown you have provided is what is on paper for the sake of formality,” he stated.
The US lawmaker warned that Nigerian politicians and the government are pushing the public to their breaking point, noting that Nigerians are known for their patience but not for forgetting injustices.
“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.
Efekoro also addressed the current administration under President Bola Tinubu, urging Nigerians to continue supporting the President as he works to resolve the country’s challenges. However, he voiced concerns about the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and his treatment of senators who seek to hold the government accountable.
“I still have faith in the administration of President Bola Tinubu, but the National Assembly should not be a rubber stamp to the President,” Efekoro emphasized.
The lawmaker called for greater transparency from Tinubu’s administration, particularly regarding the economic impact of the recent subsidy removal.
“I plead with my fellow Nigerians to give the Tinubu administration more time to take the economy out of the mess created by the Buhari administration. On the other hand, Tinubu’s administration needs to tell Nigerians how much has been saved by the Nigerian government through subsidy removal and how that money has been utilized,” he said.
Efekoro concluded with a warning to the government, urging them to clearly communicate their economic plans to the public to prevent potential unrest.
“The administration needs to state their plan for the economy and carry Nigerians along with whatever their intentions are to avert a soon-to-come revolution,” he advised.
The controversy over lawmakers’ pay in Nigeria continues to fuel public dissatisfaction, with many citizens calling for greater accountability and transparency from their elected officials.