Slash lawmakers’ salaries by 30, 40%, electoral committee proposes

The Joint Committee on Electoral Matters has proposed a 30/40 percent reduction in the salaries of lawmakers.

The committee made the proposal on Monday during an interactive session with the Judiciary and political parties, led by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, on the National Assembly Review and amendment of the Electoral Act 2022.

“The salaries of legislators should be reduced by 30 percent while that of the executives be reduced by 40 percent to cut costs,” they proposed.

Political parties also proposed that all elections – presidential, National Assembly, governorship, and State Houses of Assembly – be conducted on a single day.

They argued that the current staggered system of elections is not cost-effective.

They also suggested linking continuous voter registration to the National Identity Number (NIN).

According to them, this will help strengthen security and save costs during the voter registration exercise.