Saraki set up committee to slash senators’ salaries o

The senate president, Bukola Saraki, has set up the Committee on Financial review with a mandate to review its own salaries, allowances, and the overhead cost of running the Senate with a view to realigning them to reflect the present economic situation in the country.
The senate also set up another committee on Legislative Agenda; the two committees were given one-week to submit their reports, according to a statement from the Media Office of the Senate President.
“The Senate’s Ad-hoc Committee on Financial review is the first time the Senate is setting up a body to review its own salaries, allowances, and the overhead cost of running the Senate with a view to realigning them to reflect the present economic situation in the country,” the statement reads.


FILE PHOTO: Senate President Bukola Saraki (M) going in for his first plenary session as President of Senate. Behind him is Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu. Photo: NAN.
It could be recalled that the National Assembly had slashed its 2015 budget to N120billion from N150billion as a result of dwindling Federal Government’s revenue.
The cut was part of the National Assembly’s belt-tightening measures in view of the current economic realities in the country.
Saraki, had during the inauguration of the committee observed that the subject of reduction in cost of governance had been on the front burner of national discourse for a long time because of its extremely sensitive nature.
Saraki pledged that the Senate under his leadership would make “financial conservatism” its watchword.
The Senate President said: “There still persists the need to project clarity, accountability and transparency in all legislative matters and legislators’ welfare.
“The 8th Senate under our watch recognizes the concerns raised by Nigerians about the cost of running office most especially with the economic challenges facing our nation.
“The Senate will be more transparent regarding all public funds spent for the purpose of paying salaries and allowances of legislators and ensure that distinction is sufficiently made between what a legislator actually earns and what is spent to run and implement legislative business and committee activities.
“The watchword in our financial issues will be fiscal conservatism. It is therefore on this arm that the committee is mandated to carry out thorough fiscal examination on the Senate finances with the aim of coming up with the best cost-effective regime in the 8th Senate.”