Former Senate Chief Whip, Orji Uzor Kalu has said that Nigeria’s federal lawmakers are being taken for granted, insisting that he has tightened his belt as a result of hardship.
Kalu was a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday where he spoke extensively on national issues.
According to the former Abia State governor, people disregard the huge works being done by federal lawmakers and focus more on their wages.
There is the general belief that Nigerian lawmakers are one of the highest earning legislators in the world.
Asked if he had tightened his belt as a result of the hardship, Kalu said, “The Assembly does not control any money. We sign the budget and it goes to the MDAs. For me I have tightened my belt.
“Before, I usually thought these lawmakers just sat there. But there’s a lot of work going on there. I’m telling you the truth.
“Sometimes I don’t go to my house until 11 pm sitting in different committee meetings. So, people take Senators and House of Reps members for granted.
“But it’s not supposed to be like that. We should be respected. We agreed that we’re not the people running the country’s economy.
“Our duty is to make law, another arm of the government will execute the laws we’ve made.”
