Posted by From JAMES OJO, Abuja. on
Rather than concur with the Senate on the Bill to Amend the salaries of political and public office holders, the House of Representatives yesterday resolved that there should be no disparity in what ministers and ministers of state take home at the end of the month.
Rather than concur with the Senate on the Bill to Amend the salaries of political and public office holders, the House of Representatives yesterday resolved that there should be no disparity in what ministers and ministers of state take home at the end of the month.
Section 3a of the bill already passed by the Senate placed ministers on N2,026,400.00 against the minister of state's N1,957,580.00. But the House noted that there was no disparity at the point of screening of prospective ministers by the National Assembly.
Considering the Bill in the Committee of the whole, it was argued that the minister of state should not be placed on the same salary scale as chairmen of government agencies as recommended by the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission RMAFC.
Hon C.I.D Maduabum, representing Nnewi/Ekwusigo Federal Constituency of Anambra argued that when the ministers were being screened by the Senate, there was no discrimination.
Maduabum, who is the chairman of the House Committee on Public Petitions said there was no basis for disparity between the ministers as they were not designated as junior or substantive while the president does not distinguish between the appointees, but only designates them for the various portfolios after the screening.
Hon Terngu Tsegba, in his contribution said that it was wrong to place a minister's salary above the other because they all came from the states and the president, if and when he wishes to reshuffle his cabinet, may designate a junior minister above the other and not as a result of any special reasons.
The House also faulted President Yar'Adua on the appointment of special advisers, insisting that the president ought to have sent the list and number of persons to be appointed to the House same time like he did to the Senate.
Chairman of the committee of whole, Deputy Speaker Bayero Nafada therefore ruled that the special advisers should not be paid till the anomaly is corrected and directed the acting Clerk of the House, Niyi Ajiboye to write the president that Due Process was not followed in the appointment of the special advisers.
'Section 171 of the constitution was violated by the president," Nafada noted and asked the acting Clerk to 'Please note that you must write the president and tell him that Due Process was not followed in the appointment of the special advisers. He ought to have sent in the number to the House for approval. But he did not do so."
The lawmakers equally frowned that the RMAFC recommended that a minister, who is an appointee of the president should earn more than an elected representative of the people, while Nafada also directed Ajiboye to write the chairman of the RMAFC to approve a new salary structure for the lawmakers to befit their status.
'Honourable members, I have also looked into the salaries and allowances of parliamentarians and it is nothing to write home about. So clerk, you have to write the RMAFC to look into it and adjust it accordingly. Let the RMAFC adjust the salary to befit our status, " Nafada said.