‘N’Assembly members should declare salaries’
Journalists,
under the aegis of the Nigerian Young Journalists Forum, have requested
the Senate and House of Representatives to declare the salaries and
constituency votes of their members.
The group, in separate letters addressed
to the two chambers under the Freedom of Information Act, also asked
the legislators to declare their assets.
The letters jointly signed by NYJF
National President, Mr. Ayodele Samuel, and General Secretary, Mr.
Zacheaus Somorin, was received by the two chambers on July 18 and made
available to our correspondent on Sunday.
The letter read in part, “We request the
leadership of the National Assembly to make available the salaries and
allowances of members of the senate in order of hierarchy; the total
amount expended by the House of Senate and Representatives from June
2011 to June 2013; constituencies votes of members of the House of
Senate and Representatives from June 2011 to June 2013 with names of the
members and the their constituencies; proof of compliance of the
members of the House of Senate and Representatives with statutory law on
asset declaration by public officers.
“The information is requested for proper
media reportage on salaries and constituency votes of members of the
National Assembly which have been subject of public debates and
misrepresentations in recent times. It will enhance correct, factual and
unambiguous reportage on statutory budgetary allocations and expenses
of the Nigeria’s legislative arm of government.”
NYJF urged the lawmakers to provide the
requested information to enable the FoI bill, passed in May 2011, serve
the purposes it was enacted for.
It said, “We are of firm conviction that
disclosure of the requested information is in the public interest as it
will contribute significantly to engendering trust and understanding
between the National Assembly and the general public.
“NYJF wishes to again commend the
National Assembly for delivering on Freedom of Information Bill in
meeting popular demand for transparent and accountable governance in
Nigeria. NYJF advocates responsible journalistic engagement and
therefore committed to meaningful and constructive reportage with the
view to investing our democracy with popular participation from all
sectors of the public.”
CULLED FROM: PUNCH NEWSPAPERS
July 22, 2013 by Sodiq Oyeleke
Written by NEWSTRAWL ONLINE UPDATE
Sodiq Oyeleke is a Media, Human Resources, Project Management and Public Relations Practitioner
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