Rochas Okorocha: says N13 million monthly pay for senators not enoughrochas

By Ikenna Uwadileke

Former Imo governor, Rochas Okorocha has said the about N13 million currently being earned as salary and allowances by each senator is not enough to do the job the lawmakers are saddled.

Rochas who is also a senator spoke at a media parley with the FCT Chapter of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, entitled “Conversation with Rochas Okorocha at 59: Award of Icon of Service and Philanthropy” on Monday.

The former Imo governor who was arguing for reduction in the number of senators elected from each state from the present three to one said a senator’s salary is about N2 million with a housing allowance of N3 million and other allowances amounting to about N11 million.

“But, that is not enough because if we have a senator, we should pay him well to do the job because he has no other job unless we want to make it part-time,’’ he added.

He stressed the need to reduce the cost of governance in Nigeria with a view to saving money for the country.

“Remember, I said let us have one senator per state and it raised a lot of controversy in the whole country.

“But, shortly after I talked about that Italy reduced the number of their senators by 60 per cent just as if they copied from me.

“You know Nigeria will like to maintain the old way, but if you keep doing things the same old way you keep getting the same old result, so we must try something new.

“Now, when you talk about cutting down cost of governance Nigeria is better off with one senator per state and three federal House members per state. This number of people can solve Nigeria’s constitutional problems.

“We are too many and what is it that three senators can do in a state that one senator cannot do?

“I have asked this question, but nobody answered me; emotions drive this country rather than issues,’’ Okorocha said.

“Those funds would have been engaged in the productive sector of our economy to produce something that we will export or do something for Nigeria,’’ the former governor said.