8th July, 2015
Eromosele Ebhomele
The representative of Ifako/Ijaiye Constituency 2 at the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rasheed Makinde, has described as unfair the call by Nigerians for politicians to cut their pay.
According to Makinde, most political office holders invested heavily in their campaigns even borrowing money from banks and other financial institutions to fund their elections.
Even though Makinde, a first-term lawmaker, said he would support a part-time legislature in Nigeria, he explained that he would never support pay cut for lawmakers
“The issue of part time legislature is okay, but I would not support a reduction of their package because the cost of running election in Nigeria is very expensive compared to advanced democracies.
“In those countries, you would open an account and people would be donating there for your campaigns.
“In Nigeria, they would borrow you money here and you would need collateral to do so from the banks.
“In our country, you would spend money and if you don’t give people money, you would never win any election except where the electorates are educated and nobody asks you for money.
“It is not a secret, it is open to everybody. So most times, we borrow money to run elections in Nigeria.
“Hardly would you see any legislator that has not borrowed money to do elections, be it state or federal.
“So, how do you repay the money if the salary is poor. When I got to this place, I was disappointed because our salary is not much,” he said.
Makinde also kicked against the call for a unicameral legislature in the country saying this was not the solution to Nigeria’s problems as even the United States of America, which Nigeria draws its democracy from, operates a bicameral legislature.
He however said he sought election into the state Assembly because he wants to serve his people.
“I believe that my coming would bring a lot of changes, which is why I am working hard to see that I do my best,” he said.