I Have Never Received Salary As A Governor, Senator – Okorocha Claims

Former Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, has claimed he never received a penny from the National Assembly since he became a senator.

The Lawmaker representing Imo West Senatorial district in the National Assembly said even when he was a sitting Governor, he never collected his salaries.

Okorocha who spoke in Abuja on Monday while fielding questions from members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), said his claims can be confirmed by the NASS clerk and his colleagues in the Senate.

Naija News reports that the philanthropist was at the NUJ for conversation with Abuja Journalists, as part of activities lined up for his 59th birthday anniversary, slated for the 22nd September, 2021.

Okorocha, when asked how much senators take home every month end as salary said he doesn’t know.

He said he wasn’t sure but their salary shouldn’t exceed two million naira which according to him is even small.

Speaking further about his salary, Okorocha said he had told the management of the National Assembly from the start of his tenure as Senator, to channel his monthly salaries and other allowances into charity, which he said was initially objected to by the Management.

“I have never received salary as a Senator. Even as a Governor of Imo State, I didn’t draw a penny for the years I spent. I hate public funds. One thing about public funds is that, if you don’t work for it, don’t collect it because it has spiritual implications”, Okorocha told the journalists.

On the basic salaries and allowances of Senators, Okorocha said, “I don’t know how much a Senator earns. But I think the basic salary is around N2m, but allowance is around N3m for housing, then transportation and other allowances put together to be around N10m or N11m, not too sure”.