Some senators-elect have described as
unacceptable the high cost of running government in
the country, demanding immediate review so that the
incoming administration of the President-elect,
Muhammadu Buhari, can achieve meaningful
development.
Specifically, the senators-elect, who spoke in
separate interviews with our correspondent in Abuja,
advocated a drastic reduction in the allowances
accruable to top government functionaries and the
lawmakers.
Ben Bruce (PDP, Bayelsa East), described as
unjustifiable the fact that the National Assembly
consumed three percent of the national budget.
He said, “If a company’s management spends 88
percent of its income to run the organisation, it will
collapse. So, government in Nigeria at the moment is
inefficient. It is now time to talk about how to reduce
the cost of running the government.
“First, only the President and Vice – President must
fly first class. Members of the senate, governors and
ministers should fly business class. Everyone else
should fly economy class. Commissioners,
permanent secretaries, everybody else, should fly
economy.
“When you go abroad as public servant, you stay in
Holiday Inn, which is just about $200 a night. At the
moment civil servants travel out of the country on
official assignment and sleep in hotels worth $4,000
a night. Any government official who sleeps in such
hotels should go to jail.”
Bruce said if leadership is by example and leaders
live a humble lifestyle, billions of dollars would be
saved to improve the lives of Nigerians and create
enough jobs for the youths.
“The amount being spent on overseas treatment is
enough to build a modern hospital that would be of
international standard in each state capital,” he
added.
Bruce pledged to sponsor a bill that would seek to
reduce the cost of running the government
immediately after the inauguration of the 8th
National Assembly.
He said the bill would prescribe specific punishment
for defaulters even as he vowed to move against any
of his colleagues who would try to oppose his bill.
He said, “I am bringing a bill to that effect and I will
publish names of any of my colleagues who voted
against it. We will deal with them.
“I will also move a motion that all allocation
accruable to the federal parliament should be
published and any of my colleagues who oppose it
will have his names, phone numbers, addresses and
pictures published.
“Nigerians would see them and ask them why they
voted against the poor. Why should a government
official ride N50m jeep when they can make do with
N2m Kia vehicle? The police are protecting the rich
when the poor are suffering insecurity.”
Another senator-elect, Dino Melaye (APC, Kogi
West), also pledged to champion the cause for a
drastic reduction in the allowances payable to
lawmakers after the inauguration in June.
He said, “I am actually championing the cause of a
cut in our pay. There is a need to cut down our pay
because if we talk about change, there is the need to
demonstrate that change. We must sacrifice as
legislators.
“Nigerians are going through a perilous time. That
change is to cut down our own pay and
remuneration. So instead of increasing our earning,
we should enhance the committees to start proper
oversight functions.
“The satanic collaboration between the executive
and the legislature would not be there. When we are
going for oversight function, you don’t need the
MDAs to provide logistics for our movement.
“I think that should be taken seriously and everyone
who means well for this country should support the
cut in pay to legislators. The 8th senate should take
their oversight function very seriously; fight
corruption, check the executive and check
themselves also.”
Samuel Anyanwu (Imo East) said legislative
activities would no longer be business as usual in the
8th National Assembly if the nation must move
forward.
“We will do our best not to truncate the economy of
this country .We are going to ensure that peace and
unity of this country still remains, yet we must play
our roles,” Anyanwu said.
www.punchng.com/news/senators-elect-seek-reduction-in-cost-of-governance/

right way to go

If this is said out of genuine mind for the good being of the country, then the CHANGE we craved has eventually come as this would go a long way to curb excesses and wastes, and hence create a developmental stride for our dear country.

Okay

But Your Salaries and Allowances have to be slashed,,,If not,,you must be sitting on a long thing

I pray make dem do am
I hate "change"

Beware

Good days ahead of us.

We all can see what enormous respect for a president can achieve?

I am so confident that President Buhari will achieve a lot with the amount of respects he commands among all political office holders, not to talk of his direct appointees who will work to help him achieve his set goals.

Buhari is God sent, let haters go hang if they like.

OREMUSSANCTUS:
I pray make dem do am
I hate "change"

You pray make dem do am buh you hate change

good development

It is only Ben Bruce dats saying dis. If we can have at least 10 senators with such mentality, tins will be much beta.

We need transparency in government. Let them unanimously slash their allowances and make it known to the public. By so doing,they will earn respect of the people. Its not only in the Executive that allowances need downward review. Its good to know that from May 29th, a buffet of N1m per day cease to exist. We're moving forward.

Thank God even PDP's ben Bruce is in support.

This is real CHANGE!!!

Bt the way Bruce dey threaten people so, make he efrebor ooo.