03959/1/8/2017/ Jones Bamidele/NAN
The President of the Senate Dr Bukola Saraki has invited Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to a round-table over the “contentious” salaries of lawmakers.
Special Adviser to Saraki on New Media Bamikole Omishore disclosed in a statement that the meeting will be to give more details on the earnings of senators.
Recently, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) wrote the President of the Senate urging him to urgently explain to Nigerians if it is true that a Nigerian Senator gets N29 million in monthly pay, and over N3 billion a year.
Reacting to request by SERAP, Omishore pointed out that the Senate had already released budget breakdown and payslips of lawmakers and surprised that some Nigerians were still not clear on the matter.
Omishore said that the Senate was always poised to meet the yearnings of the people and as such the President of the Senate had agreed to a meeting to provide all details on the earnings.
“The attention of the office of the President of the Senate has been drawn to demand for more details regarding the earnings of Senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Having released the Breakdown of the National Assembly Budget, the most comprehensive in the history of Nigerian Senate, it Seems the release of pay-slips and National Assembly is yet to clarify earnings of Nigerian Senators.
“Senate President @bukolasaraki has agreed to a roundtable with SERAP & other CSOs to enlighten them and answer genuine questions regarding the matter.
“I will make contact with SERAP and other CSOs for a date convenient for all parties in the next few days,” Omishore said.
