Senate reacts to Itse Sagay's claim that each senator earns N29m a month and N3bn per annum

Yesterday, chairman of the Presidential Action Committee on Anti-Corruption (PACAC), Itse Sagay, alleged that members of the Senate collect as much as N29 million as monthly salary which is N3 billion per annum.

The Senate has now released a statement reacting to his claim. In the statement which was signed by Senate spokesperson, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, the legislators called on President Buhari to caution Sagay who they described as a loose cannon. According to Abdullahi, Sagay talks like a man who is constantly under the influence of some substance and perhaps possessed as he employs the language of a tout with no civility. Read the statement below

The Senate has urged President Buhari to rein in the chairman of the Presidential Action Committee on Anti-Corruption (PACAC), Professor Itse Sagay who it accused of spreading falsehood and making hate speeches against the National Assembly.

In a statement by its spokesman, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, the Senate stated that Sagay was fond of using every opportunity he has to make public speeches to disparage the Federal Legislature by using uncouth and unprintable words to describe the legislators and the institution they represent. 

He noted that Sagay had been one of the few divisive elements in the Buhari administration who believe their relevance is enhanced only when they create constant tension between the legislature and the executive while also setting members of the executives against each other.

Abdullahi noted that while the legislators had ignored past statements made by the Professor of law, his recent speech at a public lecture in Lagos organized by the Society of International Law where he gave false details about the salary and allowances of the legislators and the various bills passed bordered on inciting members of the public against the legislators and deliberately circulating hate speech; which the government is working hard to contain.

"Ordinarily, we would ignore Sagay whose statements and attitude present him like a rascal and sadist instead of a former university teacher. However, his last speech in Lagos during which he was reeling out false and exaggerated figures about the salaries nod allowances of legislators and also lied about the passage of anti-corruption bills showed that he just deliberately set out to undermine the legislative institution and lower its reputation in the estimation of right thinking members of the society and we therefore believe we should put him in his rightful place.

"As an academic whose creed should be to find facts and make comments based on truth, we believe that Sagay should stop spreading beer parlour rumours about the salaries and allowances of legislators when he could simply get the facts from the Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Allocation Commission (RMFAC) which is the body constitutionally charged with the responsibility of fixing salaries and allowances of all public officials.

"Let us make it clear that our salaries and allowances are open books and the details can be taken from the RMFAC by any interested party.

"Prof. Sagay at his lecture in Lagos also made comparisons which did little credit to his background as a lecturer as he was talking of the salary of the United States President and that of a Nigerian legislator. That is like comparing oranges with apples. Only a senile, jaded, rustic and outdated Professor of Law like Sagay will make such a comparison which falls flat on its face, even to an ordinary lay man. Surely, Sagay is basing his analysis on street talks.

"Sagay could not even check the records before proclaiming that "the National Assembly has not passed a single bill for the promotion of anti-corruption war since it commenced business in July 2015". First, the 8th National Assembly was inaugurated on June 9, 2015 not July. Also, it is on record that the Senate has passed the Whistle Blowers' Protection Bill, Witness Protection Bill, Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Bill and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Agency Bill.

"This man talks like a man who is constantly under the influence of some substance and perhaps possessed as he employs the language of a tout with no civility. He is probably constantly excited and incensed by the fact of having his first opportunity to find himself in the corridors of power.

"He pontificates and talks as if the war against corruption of the Buhari administration depends solely on him to survive. He once publicly attacked the Attorney General of the Federation and accused him of not doing enough to prosecute the war. In the Lagos speech, he took a blanket swipe at the judiciary and rubbished that entire institution which he as a lawyer has the professional, ethical and constitutional duty to respect.

"This is a man who cannot stand for Councilorship election and win. We challenge him to state what his contributions are in the election of our amiable President, Muhammadu Buhari and what new ideas he has contributed to making the fight against corruption more effective since his appointment. 

With an easily excited man like him as head of an advisory body, the nation has continued to lose anti-corruption cases in courts due to the failure of his advices. He needs to do more work and talk less because media prosecution cannot win the war on corruption", Abdullahi stated.

The Senate therefore called on the President to caution Sagay and stop him from further creating needless tension in the relationship between the executive and the legislature.

Signed
Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi
Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs


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  1. In few words, can the senate therefore through its spokesperson Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, prove Prof Itse Sagay and Nigerians wrong by telling us what their actual pay is monthly?

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  2. Tanx Mr Chris. That's exactly what I'm about to ask the Senate to do. I believe that the Senate is our employee and we deserve the RIGHT to know how much we pay the Senate. We the people of Nigeria employed the Senate to do a job for us and we should know how much the job costs us. And I think the only reason u should say no to our request is if u know that something is not right. So please stop the noise and prove the Professor, Mr. Itse Sagay wrong by making public ur pays. But I'm 75% sure u will not do that because I think u are not proud enough to make it public due to human being's selfish nature and lack of love, when so many are suffering and few, very few are living large. This one too, only Jesus Christ can cure us of it because it's a disease, a deadly disease. May God's grace and mercy manifest on us all to see, know, and believe that Jesus Christ is the only way out of Nigeria delima. And may be sometimes, people like Professor Itse Sagay provokes other people to talk, not to say I that I support untruthful news and information but just saying. I'm for everything true so let's do it right. Be blessed inJesusChristname. As usual, Today Thursday 09072017 @ 2:28pm.

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  3. If you refute allegations and yet you can not put the fact straight you are not fit to make Laws. How much is your salaries? Tell us

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  4. Has there been any time u hear senators want to suspend sitting, never, tomorrow Bukola Sariki will tell u they fought recession by filling their pocket buying expensive SUV, they will one day disgrace themselves there this is just beginning, doctors are strike, ASUU are on strike they don't care worse come to worst the will run to abroad for medical attention all their children are schooling abroad, to the detriment of poor Nigerians. Tell us how much u are been paid in a month. Are not civil servant that supposed to be earning the 18k minimum wage?

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  5. I use to have senators as lecturers in my university abroad,but these pot-belied, bunch of nonentities so called Nigerian senators are too lousy to articulate logical arguments not to talk of debate a bill. What a shame!

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  6. Nigerian senate are the most corrupt and one of the highest earners of jumbo salary in the world. They are vehemently corrupt.

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  7. Nigerian senate are the most corrupt and one of the highest earners of jumbo salary in the world. They are vehemently corrupt.

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  8. These (senators) people are the once killing these nation. If Nigerians don't wake up to deal with these mennese, then it shall ruin the nation soonest. Like someone stated above, senate comprise of our employees just like every other government officials, rather these thieves pose like they own the country. I don't see any reason why these people should be entitled to pension even after receiving these jombo pay and other benefits, and money sharing among them. Yet our parents who served Nigeria for upto 35years in the ministry can't even receive pension they are entitled, while many are paid just about minimum wage., but these thieves receiving heavily and recycling themselves and families.

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