Senate President Ahmad Lawan said many honest Nigerians are misled to believe that National Assembly members take millions every month as salary and allowances.
“There are many Nigerians who are honest but they are misled into believing that the National Assembly, for example, every month the National Assembly members are given N150 million. A Senator take N300 million,” he said.
Lawan said this in his keynote address at the Conference of Presiding Officers of the Nigerian Legislature which began in Abuja late Friday.
The theme of the conference which is yet ongoing is Public perception of the role of Legislature: Post Legislative Scrutiny and Independence of the Legislature.
Lawan spoke against the backdrop of attack on Federal lawmakers and misinformation that followed the recent leakage of the roof of the National Assembly complex.
The Senate President said it was unfair to assume that the N37 billion that was initially budgeted for the rehabilitation of the National Assembly complex that was later slashed to N9.2 billion had been embezzled by members of the National Assembly when the money was actually domiciled in the Federal Capital Territory budget.
“This is one demonstration and testimony of misperception of the legislature. As I speak, this is still going through the procurement process.
“But you know what, when there was leakage, some of these critics and haters and traducers of the National Assembly said the National Assembly had spent the money. They have finished the rehabilitation. Look at what is happening. They didn’t even care to find out what really happened. So they went to town.
“Those of us in the legislature have this misfortune of been misunderstood, misrepresented but for the sake of our people, we must continue to bear everything and anything anybody will say,” he said.
“So, I will always advise that members of the public, especially those minority who have access to media should please help our democracy prosper. Tell the true story. Inform correctly. Publicise rightly. We welcome criticisms,” Lawan said.
The Senate President also advised the outspoken members of the public to give credit to the legislature when there are evidences of good performance.
“When it comes to given the National Assembly or the legislature credit, those who have access to media are either too economical with their ratings or even too blind to see very good performances by the National Assembly and the legislature across the country,” he said.
