Orji Uzor Kalu, the lawmaker representing Abia North in the Senate, stated that his monthly income as a Senator is N14 million.
During an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, the Senator refuted the idea that lawmakers enjoy wealth while the majority of Nigerians live in poverty.
“I earn N14 million for everything in a month. That is everything encompassing, the overhead, the worker’s salary, everybody,” Uzor-Kalu said.
Uzor Kalu, the ex-governor of Abia State, said that N14 million is too little to cover the cost of fuel for his trip to his constituency and other expenses for his office.
One big issue people always complain about is the luxury cars the lawmakers get.
But Senator Uzor Kalu said lawmakers don’t get official cars, only the committees do.
“I am in the Senate and a lot of things are said about the Senators and I sit there quietly and watch, and most of these things are not true. All I know is that committees get vehicles, no lawmaker is given any vehicle,” the Senator said.
Senator Uzor Kalu said the economic hardship in Nigeria is not unique, as COVID-19 is still impacting economies worldwide.
He said other countries aren’t feeling COVID-19 like Nigeria because they’ve built a solid economy over time.
He said President Bola Tinubu is aware of the country’s messed up economy and is taking action to deal with the issues.
“The president himself knows Nigerians are suffering and hungry. He is a street person; he knows the street very well.
“The president some nights uses his car to go around and know what is happening in Abuja here,” he said.