The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, has lamented the abnormally high salary of federal lawmakers in the country.
He said it was surprising that in the era of change, a senator earns as much as N36 million, which could pay the salary of 400 unemployed Nigerians at N90,000.
He also lamented that a soldier employed to defend the territorial integrity of the nation earns as little as N49,000, with many of them lacking accommodation.
In a Sunday statement addressed to the president, Emir Sanusi urged the president to cut the lawmakers’ salary by half.
According to Guardian, the traditional ruler said that if the salary of each member of the National Assembly was divided into two, it would go a long way to provide more jobs for 70,400 jobless Nigerians at between N90, 000 and N92, 500 monthly salary.
He said: “Where is the change? Change should start with the National Assembly. A senator receives N36million monthly. If this is divided into two, it comes to N18 million.
“The second half of N18 million can be used to create jobs for 200 Nigerians, each earning N90, 000 monthly, When you multiply 200 people by 109 senators, this will give 21,800 Nigerians gainful employment.
“In short, 200 Nigerians will be able to live a comfortable life on half a senator’s monthly salary.”