The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged Senate President Bukola Saraki to clarify the true status of earnings of senators in the National Assembly.

This is coming few days after Professor Itse Sagay, Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption (PACAC) alleged that a senator earns N29 million monthly and over N3 Billion annually.

SERAP, in a statement issued on Thursday September 14, 2017, signed by Timothy Adewale, deputy director, reads “SERAP believes that releasing the information on salaries and allowances of members of the senate would encourage a nuanced, evidence-based public debate on what would or should be a fair salary for a member of the senate.

“It is by making transparency a guiding principle of the national assembly that the senate can regain the support of their constituents and public trust, and contribute to ending the country’s damaging reputation for corruption.For the senate, practicing transparency should start with the leadership being open to Nigerians on the salaries and allowances of members.”

It further argued that disclosing the amount earned by senators would not hinder their performance as lawmakers, rather, it would increase the trust of Nigerians in them.

SERAP concludes that transparency is necessary for accountability, and helps to promote impartiality by suppressing self-interested official behaviour.