Parliamentarians have been criticised by the public for raising their salaries and allowances amid a cost of living crisis.

The lawmakers were said to have raised their annual payments from D1.49m to D2.69m. 

The pay rise has been branded “unacceptable” in the current economic crisis that sees thousands of Gambians struggle to put food on the table.

Many Gambians took to social media to condemned their parliamentarians.

One wrote on Twitter: “Daylight robbery if you ask me D2.69m from D1.49m…and he is being to do it considering there is a “robbing allowance” . Freudian slip?”.

Another wrote: “Look at these proposed increments in salaries and allowances and tell me we are operating as a poor nation.”

Yet another wrote: “Purely daylight robbery. What in the world is ‘Robbing Allowance’ and why do they get paid responsibility allowance?

One wrote “A rough calculation of the speaker’s total monthly earnings will be around quarter of a million.”

“They’re enjoying their share of the cake! It’s public service after all,” said another. 

One wrote: “Indeed daylight robbery…. Both tax payers and donors money and pocket by selfish and greedy people..

“This type of robbery, blatant corruption and contempt of the people (tax payers) can only happen in The #Gambia and nothing will come out of it. The saddest is they are paying each other these hefty sums while schools and hospitals are empty. They recently insulted #AKI families,” another added.