It’s Wrong To Think Nigerian Lawmakers Are Overpaid For Doing Little Work

President Muhammadu Buhari said it is wrong for Nigerians to perceive that members of the National Assembly as being “highly overpaid” for doing little work.

Buhari stated this at the launch of the Green Chamber magazine, a publication of the House of Representatives, in Abuja on Wednesday, February 19, 2020.

The president, who was represented by Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, said the lack of trust in the lawmakers had made their critics see them as people who are “overly comfortable” and “stuff wads of currency notes into their pockets for little work done.”

“Hitherto, the public perception of the National Assembly is that of a bicameral legislature where overly comfortable and highly-overpaid members merely stuff wads of currency notes into their pockets for little work done,” he said.

“This wrong perception has resulted partly from the lack of understanding of the enormous work of lawmakers, especially outside the glare of television cameras.

“But with a magazine that will be the authoritative source of anything that goes on in the House – motions being moved, bills being passed, national issues being discussed and constituency projects – the public will be better informed on the activities of the House, and this will in turn reflect in an improved public perception.

“In addition, it will help the House to tell its own story, rather than relying on others to take charge of their narrative. It is said that no one can tell your story better than you.”

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