A former Minister of National Planning, Prof. Abubakar Suleiman has called on members of the Senate and House of Representatives to passionately meet the executive to have a downward review of the jumbo pay they collect every month.
He also urged relevant government agencies to take urgent steps to reduce the remunerations of the lawmakers.
He stated the lawmakers’ monthly pay must be brought down in tandem with the current realities.
Senator Shehu Sani representing Kaduna Central in the Senate, had revealed that a senator receives N13.5 million as running cost every month.
Reacting to this when he spoke with the Sun, Suleiman said, “I will agree that it is not the decision of the National Assembly to decide what they earn.
“But in the spirit of fairness and considering the situation in the country, senators and members of the House of Representatives should passionately meet the executive to review their remunerations.
“Considering the situation in the country and the fact that the price of oil in the international market has gone down, I think they should reduce it. That money is too outrageous.
“It’s too killing and it does not make sense. During my days as a minister, I didn’t go home with up to N1 million every month.
“If a minister does not earn that in one month, I don’t think lawmakers should earn it.
“The N1 million I am talking about, my housing allowance was included. Something should be done about the pay and done urgently too.”