Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Akin Rotimi has disowned the report-making round on the bogus salary and allowances of federal lawmakers.
Hon. Rotimi who gave the clarification in a statement titled: ‘Fact Check: Did Rep. Abejide Leke make bogus claims about earnings of Lawmakers?’, however, did not provide details of statutory salary and allowances approved by Revenue Mobilization, Allocation, and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).
It reads: “A trending video on social media captures Rep. Abejide Leke, the lawmaker representing Yagba Federal Constituency, reeling out what is claimed to be the earnings of lawmakers.
“In the video, Rep. Abejide supposedly said he earns N2.5 million as a basic salary, N5 million for accommodation, N7.5 million for furniture, N1.2 million for newspapers, N621,000 for wardrobe, and N248,000 for recess.
“However, a fact check shows that the video was distorted to suit the purpose of fake news purveyors. So what really happened?”
The House Spokesman however explained that: “Rep. Abejide Leke was only raising a point of order on privilege concerning claims by one Adeola Fayehun. In the original video, Rep. Abejide lamented that his privilege had been breached.
“The lawmaker brought the attention of the House to the social media commentator who made bogus claims about lawmakers’ earnings.
“Rep. Abejide further lamented that Fayehun, who is based in the United States, has made it a duty to misinform Nigerians, particularly his constituents, about happenings in the National Assembly.
“The lawmaker said Fayehun has continually instigated the people and urged the House leadership to take decisive action.
“Dangers of Disinformation Targeted at Parliament: This incident highlights the dangers of disinformation, especially when targeted at parliamentarians. Fake news purveyors can distort facts to mislead the public and create confusion.
“It is essential for the public to verify information from credible sources before believing or sharing it. Misinformation can undermine trust in democratic institutions and disrupt the legislative process. By being vigilant and discerning, we can combat the spread of fake news and protect the integrity of our democracy.
“Lawmakers’ earnings, like all public servants are publicly available as set by the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation, and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).”
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