Obasanjo's Salary Remarks Baseless—Reps Spokesperson

Mr. Philip Agbese, Public Relations Officer of the House of Representatives, on Sunday criticised the current comment by former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, that members of the National Assembly fix their salaries.

Reacting to Obasanjo’s comment, which alleged that it was immoral for the House to determine its salaries and allowances. Agbese noted that contrary to Obasanjo’s accusations, the 10th House of Representatives was different from his era.

Obasanjo had said, “You are not supposed to set your own salaries or allowances; it is meant to be done by the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Responsibility Commission. With all due respect, you know it’s not right; it is unethical for me to be the one to determine what I pay myself; it is corruption, and you are doing it; the Senate is doing it”.

Agbese however affirmed that the former President was always right and wrong because the 10th House of Representatives remained totally different from his era.

He said Obasanjo was using the past to make judgements on the present, stating that this was totally wrong and baseless.

He said, as a parliament, ‘’we have struggled to maintain the highest level of responsibility and transparency in all that we do under Speaker Tajudeen Abass''.

Former president Obasanjo made both correct and incorrect decisions during his tenure, influenced by his interactions with the National Assembly. While there were claims of his powerlessness, the current legislators have demonstrated significant progress in addressing the needs of the impoverished population.

He stressed that under Speaker Tajudeen Abass, the house is deeply dedicated to the well-being of Nigerians. "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".