A Nigerian senator has accused former President Olusegun Obasanjo of introducing corruption to the National Assembly by initiating allowances that have allegedly fueled unethical practices.
Sumaila Kawu, the Kano South senator, has blamed ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo for introducing corruption to the National Assembly.
Last week, Obasanjo accused the lawmakers of intentionally setting their salaries and allowances despite Nigeria’s severe economic difficulties.
However, Kawu disputed Obasanjo’s statement despite being in the news lately for his comment on the federal lawmakers’ allowances.
Senator Kawu asserted on Thursday’s episode of Channels Television’s The Morning Brief that it was Obasanjo who brought corruption into the National Assembly when discussing corrupt activities.
The Senate Committee on Sport’s Chairman reiterated his assertions with greater emphasis.
During the show, he stated that there is evidence of government officials and associates bribing some members of the National Assembly to manipulate the Constitution in favor of allowing him to run for a third term as president.
Heated debates have been sparked by the secrecy surrounding lawmakers’ salaries and allowances.
Amidst inquiries into lawmakers’ earnings, the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has revealed that each senator earns N1 million.
Each senator’s salary and allowances were broken down as follows: ₦168,866.70 for Basic Salary; ₦126,650.00 for Motor Vehicle Fuelling and Maintenance allowance; ₦42,216.66 for Personal Assistant expenses; ₦126,650.00 allocated to Domestic Staff costs; Entertainment at a cost of₦50,660.00 ; Utilities totaling₦50 660 .00 ; Newspapers/Periodicals amounting to₦25 ,330 .0 0 ; Wardrobe allowance set at at a cost of⇔N42 ,216 per annum House it is granted annually written by the official interested person in ordersgiving notice.pattern -simplify. Maintenance costing N8,,443,’33: respectively with Constituency Allowance amounting to N422166 The breakdown was given accordingly
Senator Kawu later revealed that every senator receives a monthly allowance of N21 million, several days following the initial statement.
An ex-legislator from Kaduna Central expressed a comparable opinion, urging openness regarding the remuneration of National Assembly members.
On Channels Television’s Lunchtime Politics, Senator Sani stated that while perusing the papers before his interview, he came across a statement attributed to one of the Senators from Kano – Distinguished Senator Kawu Ismaila. The senator confirmed that members of this group were receiving as much as N21 million monthly, which corroborates what I previously shared about senators.
When I served in the Senate, my conscience as an activist drove me to reveal what had been kept hidden for more than 20 years. I strongly believe that Nigerians and taxpayers deserve transparency regarding their legislators’ earnings and allowances. As a sitting Senator at the time, I publicly disclosed my monthly income of N13.5 million alongside actual deposits made into my account.
The National Assembly characterized Obasanjo’s assertion that lawmakers determine their own salaries and benefits as lacking in generosity.
Yemi Adaramodu, the Senate representative, urged individuals with reliable proof to offer conflicting information. He stated that members of parliament receive earnings and perks in accordance with constitutional norms established by RMAFC.
“In order to set the record straight, it must be clarified that the Senate only receives a salary which is constitutionally approved by the Revenue Mobilisation Fiscal Allocation Commission. If anyone holds a privileged position (either in qualified or absolute terms) and has any evidence to contradict this fact, we invite them forward,” stated he/she.
It is not within the power of either the Senators or National Assembly to regulate their own salaries. Any contradictory proposals are malicious and deceitful, intended only to condemn lawmakers as hypocrites. It must be emphasized that no Senator has received any financial favors from the Presidential office, a fact important for unsuspecting citizens to know.
