Senators fail to agree on salaries, allowances cut

Senate President Bukola Saraki

Senators yesterday failed to agree on the percentage to be slashed on their salaries and allowances, Daily Trust has gathered.
Weeks ago, the lawmakers decided to slash their take-home pay following the outcry that trailed the N150bn budgeted for the National Assembly in this year’s budget which was later reduced to N120bn.
The adhoc committee constituted by the Senate President Bukola Saraki  to look into the finances had last week submitted its report.
It was scheduled for deliberation yesterday but around 11.20am Saraki announced that they would be proceeding on a closed door session.
At the end of the session around 1pm, Saraki said they deliberated on their finances during the closed door session.
“In the closed session, we deliberated on the report of the finance adhoc committee and we stand it down for additional inputs,” Saraki said.
Saraki who also spoke when he received the leadership of the All Progressive Congress Youth Forum (APCYF) said the senate has nothing to hide.
“We want to make this place as open as possible. There is nothing here we are hiding.” he said.
Daily Trust had exclusively reported that the committee chaired by Senator James Manager proposed a 30-percent cut on Salaries and allowances of the lawmakers.
Our correspondent reports that senators get more money from their numerous allowances than their annual basic salaries.
Senate spokesperson Dino Melaye said the matter was stepped down the report because they needed to reach out to the House of Representatives.