Ex-FNC members dismiss 'Dh1m-a-month' rumours

Former FNC members sought to debunk rumours that have been flying about their salaries, including false reports that they made Dh1 million a month. The figure is closer to Dh25,000.

ABU DHABI // With just over a week until the FNC elections, former members yesterday dismissed rumours of Dh1 million-a-month salaries and valuable fringe benefits.

"People are exaggerating the salaries and the benefits," one said. "This confuses everyone, including the candidates."

Members of the last FNC received a monthly salary of Dh40,000 to Dh48,000, a five-year diplomatic passport and a pension of Dh20,000 to Dh25,000 a month for life. Rowaiya Al Samahi, a former FNC member from Dubai, said rumours that much more was on offer might have encouraged some people to stand for election.

"There are no millions of dir-hams, no villas, no lands, no cars - you go to work, work hard, and receive what you get," she said.

Twenty new FNC members will be elected on September 24.