The former Governor of Imo State and Senator representing Imo West Senatorial District, Rochas Okorocha has advocated a cut in the salaries of Governors, National and State Assembly Legislators and Ministers.
He also complained about the number of legislators at the National Assembly whom he put at 469.
Speaking to newsmen in Abuja, Okorocha said that it would be in the interest of the country to have only one Senator and three House of Representative members in each state and the Federal Capital Territory.
The serving Senator who is speculated to be interested in the 2023 presidential elections added that there is need for sacrifice on the part of public office holders.
However, Okorocha condemned the impression that the National Assembly members earn bogus salaries at the expense of their constituents.
According to him: “I have not received a dime as salary since I became a Senator.
“The point I want to make is that if you look at the allowances given to senators and break them down into accommodation, transportation among others, it is definitely not out of place.
“You cannot make someone a senator and expect him/her to be a pauper that cannot afford a decent meal.
“I don’t know where Nigerians got the information that made them to conclude that senators receive so much.
“How much is the cost of a befitting house in Abuja in a year ? I have proposed that if we cannot bear the cost of senators’ welfare, we should enact laws to cut it.
“But the situation now calls for national sacrifice on the part of leadership.
“Even if senators have to live in hostels, let everybody cut down 50 – 70 per cent of his or her income so that the youths can have a sense of belonging and see that the leaders are making a sacrifice.
“The truth is that our lifestyle is provocative to the youths. We must call on our leaders, the legislature and executive to change our lifestyle as a mark of sacrifice.
“It is not necessarily because they are comfortable with what they get. And even when they get it, they have thousands of people to support in addition to the extended family system in Africa.
“Rocahs Okorocha regretted the loss of lives in the course of the #EndSARS protests across the country.
According to him, “what happened is a pointer that we the elite have been selfish in handling this country’s affairs.
There has been a track record of unfair leadership for a long time. the #EndSARS protest is not just targeted at police, but a disappointment over economic issues in a nation where there is joblessness and poverty among the youths.
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Cut Salaries of Governors, Legislators, Ministers – Rochas Okorocha