ABUJA (SUNDIATA POST)- Rep. Yusuf Gagdi (APC-Plateau) says those planning to protest should rather hold non-performing ministers accountable for their actions rather than throwing the nation into chaos.
Gagdi, the Chairman, House Committee on Navy, said this while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday amidst the planned protest scheduled for Aug. 1-Aug.10.
He said: “The budget of one ministry is 10 times more than the National Assembly as an arm of government.
“And don’t you think if I am to protest, I will protest against those people who are just opportunists and not driving the policies of the government well’’.
He said the House members had made a sacrifice by cutting off 50 per cent of their salaries in order to cushion the effect of economic challenges in the country.
He queried why some Nigerians rather than believe the lawmakers would demand evidence of the pay cut.
“Why is it that the National Assembly is where Nigerians want to see their receipt? What about the appointee of governments that are allocated huge amounts of money’’, he asked.
He said a minister’s entitlement as an appointee of the president was more than 50 members of the House of Reps.
“Have you seen the convoy of a minister? Who elected them, and yet a convoy of a minister is more than a convoy of the speaker of the House of Reps.
“One Prado Jeep given to a lawmaker or member that is deducted from his salary and not free of charge.
“A minister’s special adviser has a car allocated by the ministry, then an aide to a lawmaker that is making laws for the country does not even have a motorcycle”, he told NAN.
He said as elected representatives of the people, Nigerians should trust their lawmakers more than government appointees.
The planners of the protest say they are motivated by the economic and security.
But the Federal Government says those challenges were being addressed through different channels including increase in workers’ salaries and other palliatives hence no need for the protest. (NAN)
