The whip of the head of the senate, ali ndumesays there is “no big deal” with Nigerian senators being paid N2 million each as recreation allowance.
Ndume, in an interview with BBC Hausa Service on Saturday, also said that sharing a total of N218 million among the 109 senators to enjoy their holidays is nothing special.
After the selection and confirmation of the candidates for ministers last Monday, the president of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, informed the senators that money had been credited to their bank accounts to enjoy their vacation, which began on August 7.
Akpabio’s statement was met with public criticism among Nigerians, although some of the senators later admitted that they each received N2 million as allowance for seven weeks of vacation, ending on September 26.
Newslodge reported that the allowance was illegal as it is not provided for in the remuneration package approved by the Revenue Assignment and Mobilization Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), the body authorized by law to prepare salaries and allowances for public servants.
Drastic action against Akpabio
Ndume, who represents Borno North, blamed the Senate president for releasing details of the vacation allowance to the public, saying it was like an allowance an employee is paid while on leave.
“It is well known that if any employee goes on leave, they are entitled to a leave grant. That was the money we received, and it’s nothing unusual or special.
“All the senators received two million naira. And I am making this comment with a heavy heart because he (Akpabio) is the cause of this controversy.
ALSO READ: Man allegedly raped a friend’s 10-year-old daughter
“I got the impression that they gave us special or huge amounts of money. What is the problem if I receive an allowance of two million naira in my capacity as a senator, he said.
The main whip said other senators plan to clamp down on the Senate president for exposing details of the vacation assignment.
“He made a very wrong statement, and I warned him right away that his comments were unbecoming of an elder.
“In fact, we are even planning to clamp down on him if he continues to make unguarded statements and act like we are children,” Ndume said.
Read More Related News Here
Let hear it in the comment below if you do have an opinion on this; Senate whip says N2 million ‘vacation’, allocation not unusual, may move against Akpabio