The speaker said allowing the lawmakers to attend plenary was an act of magnanimity, but that it would amount to contempt of court should they be paid their entitlements, as the matter was still pending in court.
It would be recalled that a Federal High Court in Abuja had ordered the immediate re-admission of Melaye and six other suspended members of the House
The judge said their suspension was null and void, and that it amounted to “tyranny of the majority”.
Bankole made this assertion after a Point of Order raised by Melaye in which he complained that they had not been paid what was due them, despite a court order, and the fact that they had fully resumed work.
Relying on Order 5 of the House Rules which bothers on privilege, Melaye expressed consternation at the Bankole-led House leadership for neglecting them.
He then appealed to his colleagues to prevail on the authorities to pay up the accumulated entitlements with effect from their date of suspension.
The Reps were suspended by the House on Tuesday, June 22, 2010, over alleged misbehaviour unbefitting of lawmakers after a furious brawl in the chamber.
The Rep had, a week to the incident and subsequent suspension, called for the resignation of the speaker, Dimeji Bankole, over alleged misappropriation of N9 billion funds budgeted for the House between 1999 and 2010.
However, since their resumption on December 8, 2010, the group had been denied access to their six months accumulated salaries and other entitlements.
“While the speaker has been paid, our own entitlements have not been paid. I see no reason we should be serving on credit, even when we have been making contributions as part of our legislative responsibilities.
“Please, I appeal to the Dimeji Bankole-led leadership to restore our entitlements in the interest of peace, unity and brotherliness,” Melaye said.
But ruling on the matter, the speaker insisted that the case was still pending in court, following an appeal by the House leadership, and, therefore, not disposed to comment on it.
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