Part-time parliament: Senate warns that no level of cost-cutting should affect their salary.
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Senate Spokesman Yemi Adaramodu has stated that no level of cost-cutting should affect the allocations to lawmakers.
The lawmaker said this while rejecting the call for Nigeria to run a part-time parliamentary system.
According to him, a part-time parliament would mean a part-time democracy, insisting Nigeria cannot run such a risk.
He stated this on Friday during an interview on Channels Television, adding that the country’s democracy would be jeopardised if parliamentarians in the two legislative arms transit from what is currently obtainable to part-time.
“If the parliament is on part-time, then it means democracy is on part-time,” he said, adding that “There is no democracy that derides its parliament and thrives.”
Adaramodu, a member of the ruling party, who represents Ekiti South Senatorial District, said that lawmakers of the Red and Green chambers, 109 Senators and the 360 members of the House of Representatives respectively, shoulder the responsibilities of their constituents.
He said they are not just in the national assembly to make laws but also for oversight function and advocating for their constituents.
According to him, Nigerians have access to the legislature out of the three arms of government.
“We go home almost every time and we are the ones when they give birth to a new baby, they ask for naming ceremony funds. When they are building a new house, it is from us they ask for assistance.
“So, if the parliament was not there, who do you expect that our constituents would run to?
“If we are on part-time, can’t the same amount of money be paid to part-time legislators?” He asked.
