'Senators collecting double salaries are betraying Public Trust' -Legislative Expert

By Yusuf Goje

A legislature expert, Ambassador Chibuzo Okererke, has called for the immediate amendment of the National Assembly Commission Act, Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Commission, and States Pension laws which empower former governors and their deputies presently serving as senators and ministers to earn double salary under the guise of pension.

Chibuzo who made this call in Kaduna penultimate week, at a civil society/media roundtable organized by Centre-LSD, stressed that "some provisions of these laws are a problem to Nigeria and should be amended forthwith".

"It is a conspiracy by the political elite against the people", Chibuzo said, revealing that available records show that about 40 billion naira has been spent on double salaries for the officials, not to mention other allowances accruing them.

The Ambassador called on the participants to engage in this renewed advocacy pressing for the amendments of laws skewed in favor of legislators and public servants.

Also speaking, the Progamme Manager of Centre-LSD, Victoria Udoh, disclosed that 21 serving senators and public servants are presently receiving salaries in the name of pensions from their respective states as former governors and deputy governors, and at the same time drawing salaries and allowances as members of National Assembly.

"Double emoluments and large severance benefits for the former governors and deputy governors now serving as public officials constitute nothing other than a barefaced betrayal of public trust", the Program Manager summed up.

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