NASS Say N2 Million Token Paid To Senators Not a Privilege

The National Assembly (NASS) management has said the N2 million token paid into the banks account of Senators was not a largesse or a privilege.

It explains that the N2 million was to be utilized by each of the Senators for their legislative activities.

Last week, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio had told the senators during a plenary held at the end of the week long ministerial nominees screening that N2 million was lodged in their account to enjoy their vacation.

The comment had since generated public outcry.

But the Clerk of the Assembly on Wednesday, in a statement signed by the Assembly’s Director of Research and Information, Dr. Ali Umoru, confirmed the payment of the N2 million to each of the senators.

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The Clerk said the N2 million was a statutory running costs of running offices of the senators, and was captured in the 2023 appropriation bill.

According to him, the fund was not a new development, but usually appropriated every year to the National Assembly Members.

“It should be noted that the Two million Naira is part of the running cost of the office of each senator as provided for in the 2023 budget.

“The allocation for running costs is not a new development; it has been standard practice. These funds are utilised to facilitate various activities that directly contribute to effective representation, legislative activities and other initiatives aimed at serving the interests of the people.

The Senate Chief Whip, Ali Ndume, had also said there was no big deal in all the senators receiving N2 million each for their vacation allowance, noting that it was not unusual.

The N2 million allowance given to the senators is illegal as no such provision is made in the remuneration package approved by Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), the body authorised by law to prepare salaries and allowances for public servants.