Deputy spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Mr. Philip Agbese, has responded to former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s claim that members of the National Assembly fix their own salaries.
Agbese said the 10th House of Representatives is different from Obasanjo’s era, and the former President’s statement was “spurious” and “unfounded”.
Obasanjo had said: “You are not supposed to fix your salaries or allowances; it is supposed to be done by the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Responsibility Commission. With all due respect, you know it’s not right; it is not right for me to be the one to determine what I pay myself; it is immoral, and you are doing it; the Senate is doing it.”
Agbese countered: “I am bold to say that the very respected former President is right and wrong because of the things that transpired between him and the National Assembly during his time as president. Stories abound that he was helpless. This is no longer the case, as quite a lot has been done by the current crop of representatives to deliver to the poor masses.”
He added: “No one could be more sanctimonious about the welfare of the people than the current speaker of the House of Representatives. We mean what we say and everything that we do as a parliament. The era of narrow interest is over. We are here for our people and their collective interests.”
Agbese also denied allegations that members of the National Assembly receive N100 million and N200 million, saying “no such thing happened under the current administration, led by President Bola Tinubu”.
He praised Tinubu’s leadership, saying: “We know what Tinubu wants for Nigeria, and supporting the President to deliver on the Renewed Hope Agenda is the best for the country.”
Agbese also commended the Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abass, saying: “Abbas has earned the respect of members not just because he is a kind and God-fearing man, but because he strives daily for excellence. He described Abbas as an apostle of due process who has exhibited leadership with much accountability and probity at a very religious level.”
He recalled Obasanjo’s attempt to bribe National Assembly members during his tenure, saying: “That informed his decision to amend the constitution through the backdoor, which was rejected by the majority.”
