CALABAR (CONVERSEER) – The Cross River State House of Assembly has summoned one Ejim John Ogbeche, a social media content creator from Bekwarra LGA to appear before it and explain his allegation that Hon. Omang C. Omang (Bekwarra) and other Cross River Lawmakers earn N6.8m (six million, eight hundred thousand naira) monthly.
The House adopted the resolution on Wednesday following its consideration of a Matter of Urgent Public Importance presented by Hon. Omang who disclosed that the said allegation was contained in a viral video published by Ejim John Ogbeche, his constituent.
“On the 23rd of May 2025, l woke up to a false and malicious video publication made by one Ejim John Ogbeche whose Facebook name is Ejim Johnny Agogo – a native of Ukpah (my village). The false and malicious video publication alleged that l, as a Member of the Cross River State House of Assembly, earn the sum of N6,800,000.00 as my monthly salary excluding constituency allowances and sitting allowances,” Omang stated.
Continuing, Omang added that “the false and malicious video publication is misleading and an attempt to pitch my constituents and the general public against me and the Cross River State House of Assembly.”
The Bekwara Legislator further emphasised that by the video publication, the reputation of the Lawmakers has been lowered in the estimation of right-thinking members of the public.
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Contributing to the Matter, the Lawmakers unanimously condemned the video publication as an “outright falsehood” and an attempt to tarnish the image of the House of Assembly and its Members.
They stressed the need to put the records straight, noting that they neither collect constituency nor sitting allowances while their salaries, which are not anywhere close to the alleged amount, were fixed by the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).
They agreed that the author of the video publication should be summoned to offer an explanation as to where he got his information, adding that this will serve as a deterrent to Social Media users who peddle falsehoods to instigate unsuspecting and gullible members of the public.
The Speaker of the 10th Assembly, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem described the video publication as defamatory and capable of inciting members of the public against the Legislators.
He added that, despite the inflation and the general economic hardship, Lawmakers’ salaries, as fixed by RMARF, have not been increased.