Posted by By ISMAIL OMIPIDAN, Abuja on
The Senate on Tuesday okayed new salary package for National Assembly members, President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, Vice President Goodluck Jonathan and other political and judicial office holders.
The Senate on Tuesday okayed new salary package for National Assembly members, President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, Vice President Goodluck Jonathan and other political and judicial office holders.
Although details of what the Senators and their counterparts in the House of Representatives would earn were not contained in the Bill passed. N3.55 million was approved as annual basic salary for President Yar'Adua, as against the N1.4 million, while Jonathan would now earn N3.03 million as against N1.2million.
Entitled: 'Political, Public and Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances) Amendment Bill 2008," the new law is expected to take effect from February, 2007.
By implication, both former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former ministers, who served between February 2007 and May 2007 would be paid arrears of the new pay package.
Senators and House of Representatives members have been enjoying the new salary package even before the amendment was effected. For instance, during clause-by-clause consideration of the bill, Senator Joseph Akagerger had argued against making the law to have a retrospective effect.
Senators Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello and Awaisu Kuta reminded their colleagues that once they fail to give the bill a retrospective effect, it means what they have been earning since they came in June last year would be illegal and as such, they should be prepared to refund the excess they have received.
Other office holders who are to benefit from the new law are ministers, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and Head of Service who will now earn an annual salary of N2.026 million.
Similarly the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) will now earn N3.36 million; Justice of the Supreme Court, N2.417 million; President Court of Appeal N2.477 million and Justice Court of Appeal, N1.995 million.
In a related development, the Senate has deferred the consideration of the 2008 budget till further notice.
This followed the inability of its Committee on Appropriation to submit its report following disagreements over the new revenue formula submitted by the executive on Monday.
The executive had, two weeks ago, withdrawn the revenue profile it earlier submitted to the Senate Appropriation Committee, thereby preventing the committee from further working on the budget.
However the same revenue profile was said to have been re-submitted last Monday for the committee to work on. The committee had promised to turn in its report on Tuesday.
When it was time for the committee to submit its report on Tuesday, the committee chairman, Senator Iyiola Omisore was no where to be found Senate Leader, Teslim Folarin made excuses for him. He told the Senate that the chairman was busy in his office 'trying to put the report together."
When his vice chairman, Senator Ahmed Maccido, was first called upon to brief the Senate on the report, he simply said: 'Only the chairman will be in a better position to do that."