During an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, ex-Senate Chief Whip Orji Kalu expressed his belief that Nigeria’s federal lawmakers are not being given their due respect.
He mentioned that he has had to tighten his own belt due to the current economic hardships.
Orji Kalu emphasized that the public often overlooks the significant contributions made by federal lawmakers and instead fixates on their salaries.
It is widely believed that Nigerian legislators have some of the highest pay rates globally.
Asked if he had tightened his belt as a result of the hardship, Orji Kalu said, “The Assembly does not control any money. We sign the budget and it goes to the MDAs. For me I have tightened my belt.
“Before, I usually thought these lawmakers just sat there. But there’s a lot of work going on there. I’m telling you the truth.
“Sometimes I don’t go to my house until 11 pm sitting in different committee meetings. So, people take Senators and House of Reps members for granted.
“But it’s not supposed to be like that. We should be respected. We agreed that we’re not the people running the country’s economy.
“Our duty is to make law, another arm of the government will execute the laws we’ve made.”
