Members of the Imo State House of Assembly became cynosure of all eyes in the State after newspaper reports claimed that lawmakers are earning huge packets.
The allegations has generated furore within and outside the Assembly which led the Speaker of the House, Hon.Chiji Collins to debunk the allegations.
Speaker Collins was quoted in the media to have said that the salaries and allowances of Imo State lawmakers including his are in public domain.
The Speaker said that he had handled the finances of the legislature with utmost integrity.
He said the report of huge pay of members is a fluke, saying politics should be separated from administration for the good of the people of the State.
“The report is baseless and targeted at creating unnecessary rancour among the lawmakers. The financial status of the legislature is in the public domain. Every lawmaker knows what comes to the House. Quoting fictitious figures and nonexistent sources is a fluke.”
“Here in the Imo state House of Assembly, we are like brothers and sisters. There is no rancour among us. Our primary objective is helping the governor in rebuilding the state. We pay attention to issues of development and security for our people, not pedestrian issues.”
“It is on record that this 9th House has supported the governor in his developmental plans for the state. It is on record that we are the only House that had in less than three months passed eight bills into law. This is record breaking. This Assembly has equally given premium attention to motions which are geared towards improving the states of our people.
Speaker Chiji said that he would rather concentrate on his assignment of leading a house of pragmatic and patriotic Imo citizens towards rebuilding the state than being dragged into trivialities which enemies of the state were sponsoring.