As the clamour for cut in cost of governance mounts, the spokesman of the house of representatives, Benjamin Kalu says the gesture must begin with the executive arm of government.
Speaking with journalists in Abuja on Thursday, Kalu said the national assembly only gets 0.8 percent of the country’s annual budget while the executive is in control of 99.902 percent.
Kalu said some of the lawmakers in the national assembly cannot meet their needs.
“The 0.8 percent of the national budget for the national assembly is not enough to run the institution. If you want to cut salaries, expenses, cost of governance, start it from the executive,” he said.
“That’s the truth because the 0.8 percent you’re talking about takes care of the senate and house. People think that the money that comes to the national assembly is divided by members of the house of representatives and the senate.
“That’s a wrong narrative being sold and that’s what Nigerians believe. That’s why my office is actually engaging in what’s called infographics that are going to be released very soon.
“That will break it down once members approve it so that you know where everything goes to. Nigerians will be shocked that people they thought were rich are not able to meet their needs and that’s the truth.
“It’s high time we started at the 99.902 percent of the national budget and stop focusing on the 0.8 percent of the national assembly.”
According to the Abia state born legislator, it is uncharitable to focus on the legislators alone while the action is happening somewhere else.
“Nigerians are not focusing on that rather they’ve been conditioned to focus on the 0.8 percent,” he said.
“Nigerians need to change their focus and find out what’s happening to that 99.902 percent.”
Nigerians in recent years have been aghast that while millions of the citizens live in abject poverty, the legislators earn hundreds of millions annually in emoluments.
