Ezekwesili Challenges Senate President To Public Debate Over Lawmakers' Salary

Former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, has challenged Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, to a public debate over the salary of Nigerian lawmakers. Ezekwesili, has overtime, criticised lawmakers' allowances, but the legislature labelled her criticism as blackmail against lawmakers.

In the course of the week, the Senate President said any Nigerian that doesn't like the way their representatives in the chamber are representing them should vote such lawmaker out in the next election. He also condemned the criticism of lawmakers' wages - which is colloquially known as 'Jumbo Pay' among Nigerians.

While reacting to Lawan's statement, Ezekwesili said she had challenged the lawmakers to a public hearing on their salary long before Lawan became Senate President, but just another lawmaker within the chamber.

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The public hearing request was demanded by Ezekwesili in 2013. Seven years later, she has made another request to debate the jumbo pay received by Nigerian lawmakers publicly. According to a report by Premium Times in October 2020, both the House of Representatives and Senate get N8.72 billion every year in salaries and allowances.

In her response via her Twitter handle, Ezekwesili tweeted, "Did I read that the @NGRSenate President @DrAhmadLawan challenged citizens to a Public Debate on the salaries of the members of @nassnigeria? Please set the date, Mr President of the Senate.

"It was 7 years ago, I asked for a debate on this matter. I forgive your delay.

"This link (referring to her 2013 debate request) is for the benefit of the @NGRSenate President @DrAhmadLawan, who by the way was in the @nassnigeria ,seven years ago when the Lawmakers refused my request for a Public Debate on their outrageous salaries that was already bleeding the treasury."