May 5, 2015 – Trade Union Congress (TUC) has called on the Federal Government, especially President –elect, General Muhammadu Buhari to slash lawmakers pay by 60 percent. President, TUC, Comrade Bobboi Kaigama made the statement at an occasion to mark Workers Day in Abuja.
He said that the practice in which lawmakers are allowed to fix their salaries and emoluments must be jettisoned by the coming administration and that the coming government is expected to cut down cost of governance.
“The retinue of political appointees must be drastically reduced. The practice whereby lawmakers fix their own salaries and allowances should be stopped. Their salaries and allowances should be slashed by not less than sixty percent the present rates”, the TUC said and queried the rationale why lawmakers would continue to receive over N40 million every quarter while many workers are denied the N18,000 monthly minimum wage.
“ It is preposterous that a Nigerian senator who scarcely initiates a motion earns more than the President of the United States. They tell us to tighten our belts while theirs and those of their cronies are loose.
“Anyone who is not ready to serve without milking the rest of us dry through any guise should steer clear of political office and let more patriotic hands do the job. Pray, if they were not lawmakers or executives would they not eat? Would they not entertain their guests? Would they not power their generators? Would they walk nude? Would they not make calls without having their bills transferred to Nigerians by the telecom organisations? Would they evade tax? Haba! Now that our votes have begun to count, all that thievery must stop”, TUC said.
