By Gloria IIkibah
Former Speaker of the 8th House of Representatives, Rep. Yakubu Dogara has revealed that his total allowance as Speaker was N25 million while his salary was N400,000 (four hundred thousand naira) only.
According to the former Speaker, the clarification became necessary following public misconception that members of the National Assembly earn huge salaries and allowances.
Dogara who stated this at a two-days Open Week organised by the House of Representatives on Tuesday in Abuja, added that it is important for Nigerians allow their representatives to work and limit the financial demands on them.
He said the misconception of huge salaries and allowances by Nigerians has given the National Assembly a negative image where they are called thieves even at public fora.
He said: “While I was Speaker my salary was 400 thousand Naira and my total allowance was 25 million naira, I told my accountant to open a separate account for the allowances and I never for once took any money out of that account everything that came into that account was used to cater for the needs of constituents.
“My accountant complained of the level of demand on the account and I told him if the money there is finished, borrow, when money comes it you return to were you had taken money from.
“I am saying this so Nigerians will give their legislatures breathing space and know that the narrative is not true about members pay”.