I earned N25m allowance, less than N400,000 salary as speaker – Dogara
Aformer Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, on Wednesday said what he received as allowances while in office was N25m contrary to public perception that National Assembly members collect humongous salaries and allowances, adding that his monthly salary was less than N400,000.
Dogara, who represented Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa Balewa Federal constituency of Bauchi State, served in the 8th National Assembly between 2015 and 2019.
The former speaker, who spoke at the National Assembly, Abuja, during the ‘Legislative Open Week’ organised by the House of Representatives, was trying to dispel public perception that the federal lawmakers collect so much money as allowances and salaries.
Dogara said, “My allowances, everything as a speaker then, was N25 million. I asked my accountant to open an account for this money because this money was not mine.
“I don’t know whether they have increased it but when I was there; my salary was not up to N400,000 a month. So, a young man in my constituency said, ‘You mean this is your salary? I can even hire you to work for me.”
He also said it was high time the National Assembly made its finances and expenditures public as a way of addressing the public perception that federal lawmakers earn humongous salaries and allowances.
Meanwhile, Speaker of the House of Representatives Abbas Tajudeen said the 10th House under his leadership has been committed to running an open
House that actively incorporates citizens’ input in lawmaking and oversight processes.”
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, urged the National Assembly to create platforms where citizens can air their concerns and actively participate in public hearings to enhance law-making.