Lawan: With N750,000 monthly salary, my office needs proper funding

Senate President Ahmad Lawan says his office needs proper
funding as his monthly salary is N750,000.

Lawan spoke on Tuesday when members of “The Senators Forum” paid
him a visit at his office on Tuesday.

He said the national assembly needs “proper funding” because the
legislature is critical to the development of the country.

“I receive N750,000 as my salary. My office needs to be properly
funded and therefore I cannot conduct my oversight without some
backing,” he said.

“Nigerians need to understand this. We need to continue relating
with Nigerians because they deserve to be explained to. The
national assembly needs proper funding because the legislature is
so critical in any national development.”

Lawan said the national assembly under his leadership would be
open to Nigerians.

“The ninth national assembly is going to be open so Nigerians
will know what we are doing. I never believe there is anything
called jumbo pay to the national assembly. The national assembly
members receive what is their salary,” he said.

The senate president added that the upper legislative chamber is
determined to pass budgets within three months.

“We believe this is achievable and doable. We will work with the
executives of government to present the appropriation bill in time
and maybe at the end of September, the national assembly will sit
and work with the MDAs within a specified time frame and process
the budget and before we leave for Christmas by December, we will
pass the budget,” he said.

“We must ensure that this country moves forward because the
economy of Nigeria depends on public expenditure.

“We want to see a budget process that starts and ends within
three months that ends December so we go back to January to
December cycle.”