The Nigerian Senate has denied padding the recently passed Supplementary Appropriation Act to accommodate N70 billion for lawmakers in the 10 National Assembly (NASS).
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the denial is contained in a statement by Senator Yemi Adaramodu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs.
According to the statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Sunday, the N70 was appropriated for the National Assembly in the Supplementary Appropriation Act and not for the legislators per se.
Senator Adaramodu, in the statement, argued against the view that the appropriated N70 billion was a “gift” from the Executive arm of the government.
The Senate also said that the passage of the Supplementary Appropriation Act was part of the constitutional duties of the Senate to accommodate funding for the Federal Government’s Palliative for the Nigerian public among other National demands.
“Suffice to say that the passage is part of the absolute constitutional duty of the Senate.
“A visit to the Suites, offices and the general structures of the National Assembly complex would reveal a yawning and the need for exigent attention.
“Many Senators had to bring their chairs, tables and electronics and in many cases, do sundry repairs.
“The so much debated allocation will not be paid to any Legislator. This will be managed by the National Assembly Bureaucracy.
“It’s pertinent to also note that the National Assembly complex does not house only the Legislators. There are thousands of workers and service providers, whose working environment need a face-lift, and/with necessary tools.
“Since the Assembly Complex is not owned by Legislators who are merely political birds of passage, such allocation cannot be termed by anyone as a palliative to the Legislators.
“We wish to urge fellow compatriots to see the National Assembly as partners in the progress of Nigeria.
“The National Assembly is the soul of democracy and the 10th Senate shall join hands with other arms of government and our forward looking Nigerians to sing new songs of progress, development, safety and all round economic recovery and growth,” Adaramodu stated.
TNG recalls the Nigerian Senate recently passed the bill seeking to amend the N819.5 billion 2022 Supplementary Appropriation Act to authorise issuance of N500 billion for provision of palliatives to Nigerians to cushion effect of fuel subsidy removal.
The bill was sponsored by the Executive arm of the Nigerian government and was presented by Senate Majority Leader, Bamidela Opeyemi (APC- Ekiti).
From President Bola Tinubu’s N819 billion palliative meant to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy on Nigerians, lawmakers are to get N70 billion allocation.
The amount according to President Tinubu’s letter sent to the House of Representatives on July 12 and read by the Speaker, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas, was meant to support the working conditions of new members.
Rep. Julius Ihonvere, the Majority Leader of the House, had presented for second reading a Bill from the 2022 Supplementary Appropriation of N819 billion, which was quickly passed.