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"FEDERAL LEGISLATORS' PAY RISE: REPREHENSIBLE AND CONDEMNABLE"

The National Association of Seadogs just like many concerned Nigerians is dismayed to note thatdespite the very trying economic circumstances the country is going through, the NationalAssembly could go ahead, without a hint of consideration for the plight of the ordinary citizen, toincrease arbitrarily, the salaries of its members. The speed and dispatch deployed by both houses ofthe National Assembly in endorsing this anomaly goes to show how desperate and to what extentour politicians could go in a bid to amass wealth at the expense of taxpayers.

It is quite troubling that despite being fully aware of the increasing desperate financial situation ofaverage Nigerians on the heels of the ongoing worldwide financial meltdown, the lawmakers coulddisplay such insensitivity by proceeding to vote for the following increases in their salaries andsundry allowances for themselves and their presiding officers: The Senate President is to receive inaddition to his salaries and other entitlements the sum of N1.6 billion annual "ConstituencyAllowance". The Deputy Senate President will in addition to other benefits earn a ConstituencyAllowance of N600 million. Senators each will make monthly salary of N2.48 million plusallowances and annual Constituency Allowance of N380 million while, the Speaker of the Houseof Representatives in addition to his salaries and other benefits earns N350 million annualConstituency Allowance. Other members of the Federal House of Representatives shall earn N1.98million monthly salaries plus N45million quarterly Constituency Allowance which translates toN182million annual Constituency Allowance.

FEDERALLAW-MAKERS

MONTHLYSALARYANNUALSALARY

ANNUAL CONSTITUENCYALLOWANCE

Senate President N278,477.28 N3.4 Million N1.6 BillionDeputy Senate President N259,781.26 N3.2 Million N600 MillionSenators N2.5 Million N30.00 Million N380 MillionSpeaker House of Reps N175,461.92 N2.105 Million N350 MillionHouse of Reps Members N1.985 Million N23.82 Million N182 Million

It is curious and indeed worrisome to note that these increases were not provided for by theRevenue and Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC). The increases were notonly arbitrary but flies in the face of the financial realities facing average Nigerians. This isnothing short of Treasury looting by legislative fiat. Although 70% of their countrymen andwomen live below the poverty level, our legislators believe the most pressing need for the nation atthis time is the inflation of their already over bloated legislative perks. Where is the justificationfor paying a member of the House of Representatives of a developing nation like Nigeria moresalary and allowances than the President of the United States of America? These obscene salaries

and allowances are being approved for themselves when they will not pass legislation to payNigerians a living wage as minimum wage. This callous indifference to the plight of the ordinaryNigerian by the peoples representatives must be deplored.

It is now open season on our nations coffers. A mad scramble has ensuedbetween our politiciansfor a stake on what is perceived as National Cake. The unintended consequence of this financialrascality is the murderous ferocity with which aspirants to elective posts jostle for these seats. Thespoils that are innate to these legislative seats make them opportunities to die for. Our political elite

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through their legalized thievery have managed to turn the concept of Public Service on its head.Rather than serve the interest of their constituents, the political class have turned to scavengers ofour National Purse. In between spells of their customary overseas junkets for reasons as annoyingas obscene shopping sprees and treatment of minor ailments all funded with federal funds , theyalways find time once a year to indulge in their perennial habit of bloating the Presidents Annual

Budget with infusion of their perk-barreled Projects and pay increases.

APPROVED ALLOWANCES SENATORSREPRESENTATIVESAccommodation 150% 150%Furniture 150% 150%Car Loan 250% 250%Personal Assistant 25% 25%Duty Tour Allowance (per night) N23,000 N21,000Estacode (per night) $600 $550Domestic Staff 50% 50%Entertainment 20% -

Utilities 25% 10%Recess 10% 10%Newspapers/Periodicals 10% 10%Responsibility 10-5% -Constituency 125% 75%Severance Gratuity 300% 3,000%

The table above shows other statutory benefits and allowances enjoyed by the members of theNational Assembly.A calculation of these entitlements palpably highlights evident anomaly and the endangered statusof Nigerias natural resources. These misplaced leakages in a nation where 70% of its citizenry

lives below $1 (N150 Naira) per day is not only worrisome but despicable. It presents little hopethat Nigeria can join the league of the G20 by 2020.Our political elite have provided no respite forour nation that is under a violent siege from armed robbers, assassins and kidnappers. Rather thanapply themselves to finding legislative solutions to our mounting societal and infrastructural decay,our esteemed lawmakers would rather engage in episodic fist-a-cuffs on the floor of their hallowedchambers over disagreements on the modalities for splitting their legislative loot. The obscene costof running the infrastructure of our democracy regrettably will be the greatest threat to its survival.A situation whereby a semi-literate thug who muzzles his way into a Councillorship position endsup making more money than a University Don is a sad commentary on the state of our Nationalpriorities.

We are now nearing the end of the current Assemblys four year term and all they have to show forit is a fistful of inane legislations plus a bunch of useless self-flagellating Motions and Resolutions.The National Association of Seadogs (NAS) decries this state of affairs and aligns with legalactions taken by the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) and Femi Falana Chambers. We herebydemand that:

The National Assembly should immediately reverse its recent pay rise decision to the status quo.

An immediate review of the remunerations of political office holders to reflect current economic realitiesremains fundamental.

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An effective executive oversight unit be created to monitor the proper utilization of Constituency Allowancesfor Transparency and Accountability purposes.

A Constitutional initiative to consider whether or not the legislature should be a part-time position or not.

A reduction of the number of its members because, the country does not need over 400 people seating inthe National Assembly.

Serious consideration be given to a unicameral legislature as an alternative to our present bicameralproviso.

Since a single legislature works alright at the State tier of governance, there is no evidence thatunicameralism will not work for the Federal Republic.

A review of the existing Council of State structure with a view to slightly altering its composition and by so doingutilizing it as a Nominal part-time upper legislative chamber akin to the British House of Lords.

Signed:

Oscar EgwuonwuPyrates' CaponeNational Association of Seadogs (NAS)VGC, Lekki,LagosSeptember 9, 2010