As members of the Imo State House of Assembly jetted out toSouth Africa, yesterday there is an uproar of complains by Aides of the lawmakers who are furious over the poor pay given to them on monthly basis.
This development also strengthens reports that the House is hugely indebted, especially to several print – media Houses in the state over unpaid advertorials.
Imo Trumpeta learnt that most of the Aides are lamenting in low tones, wondering why the lawmakers who always complain of lack of money could afford to embark on foreign trips at an exorbitant cost. One of the aides, a member of the House from Orlu Zone told this newspaper, that what they receive from their principals come in the mould of stipends and hand – outs. Hear him “you can imagine a Personal Assistant paid a meager sum of N10, 000 per month. It was not so in the last dispensation, where aides to lawmakers were handsomely rewarded for the services they rendered to their principals”.
However, some of the House members were singled out for “properly taking care of their aides”. Those who fall into this category include the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Minority and Majority leaders and Chief Whip which constitute the principal officers of the House.
However, there are reports of the House huge debts to several Media Houses in the state which run into millions of naira. This has put the House, especially office of the speaker, on a collision course with proprietors print media Houses who fume that there is calculated ploy by the Assembly to financially stifle media organizations in the state.
“I wonder what intention they have. They come here and place adverts, they find it difficult to pay. Yet they can afford to waste tax payer’s money on frivolities, like traveling suddenly to South Africa” a newspaper publisher told Imo Trumpeta.
When Imo Trumpeta contacted the Speaker’s aide on Media, Ikenna Samuelson for comments, he was unavailable to speak on the issue.
