The Public Perception Of The National Assembly Has To Change – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has come out to say that Nigerians feel their lawmakers are simply a bunch of overpaid politicians who just stack money in their pockets and do nothing else.

The President revealed this in a recent remark contained in a brief speech delivered by Information and Culture Minister, Lai Mohammed.

Lai was representing President Buhari at the launch of the Green Chamber magazine, a publication of the House of Representatives, in Abuja today.

According to Buhari, the perception is wrong and it was birthed from not understanding the huge job our lawmakers do on a daily basis.

He added that the duties of the house should be well broken down to the people by the lawmakers so they don’t depend on others to take charge of their narrative.

His words, “Hitherto, the public perception of the national assembly is that of a bicameral legislature where overly comfortable and highly overpaid members merely stuff wads of currency notes into their pockets for little work done,”

“This wrong perception has resulted partly from the lack of understanding of the enormous work of lawmakers, especially outside the glare of television cameras.”

In addition, it will help the house to tell its own story, rather than relying on others to take charge of their narrative,”

“It is said that no one can tell your story better than you. This magazine is long overdue. But like the saying goes, it’s better late than never.”

Femi Gbajabiamila added, “The magazine is not a propagandist outlet.

“Our service to the people who elected us, is not enabled in any way by having at our beck and call, a media outfit that exists to massage our egos and tell us what we want to hear.

“Public service always benefits from being held to impartial account. Any public service conducted in secrecy is suspect.

“The vision for the Green Chamber Magazine is that through this platform, the 9th house of representatives may contribute to the enthronement of a journalistic tradition that is grounded in the ideals of honest reporting and focused on making real the old promise of open government.”