The Leadership Council of The Initiatives has revealed that lawmakers in the National Assembly have not received their salaries since their inauguration in June 2023.
Eseme Eyiboh, the Dean of the Council, which consists of serving and former National Assembly members, stated this while addressing a press conference at the weekend.
Eyiboh, a former House of Representatives member, said the comment made by Senate President Godswill Akpabio that a token had been sent to Senators to enjoy their recess was blown out of proportion.
The former lawmaker stated the ‘holiday allowance’ gotten by senators was only a token because they have not been paid their salaries since their inauguration in June.
He said: “They have not taken their salary; the capital releases for all MDAs were withheld, so whatever is given to them, whether as salaries or allowances – a worker deserves his wages.
“If you allow a senator to go on holiday… Oru for example, has 18 LGAs in the entire district. Eket, where I come from, has 12 LGAs. If a senator goes home this time (without anything), you know what will happen to him.
“So that token was a representation of a gesture. If you are entitled to your salary and you are not given the full salary and you get this token, it is an intervention.”
Related story:
Amount Sent to Senators’ Accounts as Holiday Tokens by Akpabio Revealed
‘Lawmakers Haven’t Received Salaries Since June’ – NASS