‘Our Salary Is Not Much’ – Lawmaker

The representative of Ifako/Ijaiye Constituency 2, at the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Rasheed Makinde, revealed that the call by Nigerians for a pay-cut for legislators in both the National and State Assemblies, is more like a suicide mission for the legislators.

Beyond the flashy clothes and cars they drive currently, most of them, like other political office seekers are heavily indebted to banks and other fund lending institutions.

The current lawmakers across the country were inaugurated early June 2015 and, according to Makinde, the worst Nigerians can ask for is a pay cut, because they all borrowed money to fund their campaigns.

Many of these legislators may have thought of repaying their various loans as they get their salaries and allowances. Makinde said though he would support part-time legislature, he could never support pay cut for lawmakers.

“The issue of part time legislature is okay, but I would not support a reduction in their package because the cost of running election in Nigeria is very expensive compared to advanced countries that we compare our package with.

“In those countries, you would open an account and people donate there for your campaigns, except if someone lends you money here and you definitely need a form of collateral to do so from the banks.

“In Nigeria, you spend a lot and if you don’t give people money, you can never win any election except where the electorates are educated and nobody asks you for money.

“It is not a secret, it is open to everybody. Most times, we borrow money to run elections in Nigeria. “Hardly would you see any legislator that has not borrowed money to do elections be it state or federal.

“So, how do you repay the money if the salary is poor. When I got to this place, I was disappointed because our salary is not much” , he said.

Asked if he supports the creation of state police, as being clamoured by some of his colleagues, the lawmaker, who described the Nigerian Police Force as doing its best in sustaining peace and order in our society, added that some issues must be taking into consideration concerning the activities of the police in the country.

One of such issues to be considered is remuneration of the police since if the average policeman is well paid, he would not want to lose his job by being inefficient.

“You see how some policemen handle gun and how they react to minor things, you won’t believe it. “Also, the political climate determines their performances. In the area of remuneration, their package is nothing to write home about. “I believe they have budget, but that budget has not impacted on them at all. I also believe that our officers are not well trained. “Talking about the political climate, you could see what happened during the last election in Rivers State, where the state Commissioner of Police turned himself to a Governor, such that whenever former governor Rotimi Amaechi heard his voice, he would be shaking, this is uncalled for, a commissioner of police cannot turn himself to a ‘governor’. “In that area, the political climate determines the performance of the police. If they are being cautioned, they would behave, but if they see the backing of the ruling government, they would misbehave,” he said.

He finally noted that a unicameral legislature is not the solution to the problems of the National Assembly, adding that the United States of America which Nigeria copies, has a bicameral legislature.