Hon Simon Karu
By Our Reporter
Hon. Simon Karu, representing Kaltungo/Shongom Federal Constituency of Gombe State said members of the House of Representatives receive the sum of N9.3million monthly. He added that the money includes their monthly salary and office running costs.
He made the disclosure while speaking in a panel at an event to mark Nigeria’s 60th independence anniversary.
The lawmaker, however, said most of the funds were spent on constituents’ high demands.
He said, “The official salary of a member, House of Representatives which I also receive monthly is N800, 000. The office running cost of a member of the House of Representatives is N8.5m.
“Those of you, who know, know that I said exactly what it is. The problem is what the constituents demand and when you don’t meet they begin to call you names. Just before I walked to the stage, I received three emails from my constituents demanding for money and demanding for jobs, when you don’t it becomes an issue.”
However, Chairman of the House Committee on Treaties, Agreements and Protocols, Ossai Nicholas Ossai, countered Karu’s claim.
He asked the audience to disregard the information the Gombe lawmaker provided.
Ossai, who is one of the oldest members of the House said, “I have never received such salary since I came to the National Assembly and I have been in the National Assembly before him.”
