In New York, Beroro Efekoro, a Nigerian-born United States legislator representing Albany County in the 7th District of New York, criticized the exorbitant salaries and allowances of members of the National Assembly.
The controversy over the salaries and allowances paid to National Assembly members in Nigeria prompted Efekoro’s statement in New York on Thursday.
Allegations emerged during a visit by some House of Representatives members to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, igniting widespread public concern.
Despite the Senate’s denial on Sunday that National Assembly members determined their salaries themselves and received hefty pay, the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission disclosed that each Senator receives a monthly payment and allowances totaling N1.063m.
However, Efekoro criticized the Commission’s explanation as mere formality.
He remarked, “The person who raised the allegations was a former senator and is aware of his previous earnings. Even the person from the Commission who issued the statement knows that the breakdown provided is just on paper for formality’s sake.
“The Nigerian government and politicians persist in cornering Nigerians, disregarding that Nigerians have enduring memories. Nigerians tolerate situations for as long as they can bear.”
The legislator advocated for Nigerians to rally behind President Bola Tinubu’s administration to tackle the country’s challenges.
Efekoro also cautioned the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, against intimidating senators who seek to hold the President accountable to Nigerian citizens.
He added, “I maintain my confidence in President Bola Tinubu’s administration, but the National Assembly must not merely rubber-stamp the President’s decisions.
“I implore my fellow Nigerians to grant the Tinubu administration more time to rectify the economic upheaval caused by the Buhari administration. Conversely, Tinubu’s administration must divulge the savings amassed by the Nigerian government from subsidy removal and specify how that sum has been utilized.
“The administration must outline their economic strategy and inclusively involve Nigerians in their intentions to forestall an imminent revolution.”