The former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara, has said that his total allowance while he was the Speaker of the House was N25 million while his salary was N400,000.
While speaking at the two-day House of Representatives open week celebration in Abuja, Dogara said the clarification was necessary following public misconception that members of the National Assembly earn huge salaries and allowances.
According to Dogara 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.
“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, and when money comes you return to where you had taken the 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.’’ he said