Obasanjo faults lawmaker’s remuneration, says it is unconstitutional, immoral

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo had criticized members of the National Assembly for what he called their extravagant compensation package. The enormous pay for legislators, according to Obasanjo, is neither morally nor constitutionally acceptable.

The former president contended that no one would appreciate democracy until it had made a positive difference in the lives of common people during a colloquium in Ado-Ekiti to commemorate Aare Afe Babalola’s 60th anniversary.

At the event, Obasanjo gave a speech in which he characterized democracy as a journey rather than a destination. The former president asserted that Democracy can only be strengthened if all participants uphold and adhere to the constitution exactly.

“Democracy doesn’t mean anything to any man who is hungry, whose life is in danger or whose property is being destroyed,” Obasanjo said.

On the National Assembly’s pay, Obasanjo claimed that the lawmakers chose to fix it themselves rather than letting the institution that was constitutionally tasked with doing so.

“By the Nigerian constitution, the revenue mobilisation and fiscal commission is supposed to fix the salaries and emoluments of members of the National Assembly. But they set the constitution aside and decided to fix their salaries. Even if it’s constitutional, it is not moral. But it is neither constitutional nor moral,” he added.