Admin I Monday, August 14, 2023
ABUJA, Nigeria – Senator representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District, Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi has said that lawmakers in Nigeria have started receiving N2 million each as holiday package.
Recall that Senate President, Godswill Akpabio had said on live television that the clerk of the Senate will send N2 million cash token to each member for holiday only to withdraw the statement and say, the clerk has sent prayers to their mailbox for their smooth journey for the holiday.
Akpabio’s comments infuriated Nigerians, more especially following the bitting economic situation under which Nigerians operate with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu urging Nigerians to make sacrifice.
Ningi who spoke on Channels TV, however said he is yet to receive his token of N2 million.
“Nothing has come to my account yet. I heard that some people got N2m but for me, nothing yet. Hopefully, I would get, when they tidy up things,” he said, adding that the way the message was broadcast was embarrassing to many lawmakers.
“I think it is a huge embarrassment to the Senate President as a person and to the institution of the National Assembly. The Senate President should have gone further to say what the allowances are for. How did he come about the allowances? Who gave the allowances? Is it part of the remuneration?”, he attempted to justify this profligacy at a time Nigerians are being urged to tighten their belts.
He also said that N2 million for a holiday will do nothing for lawmakers.
“I don’t know what N2m would do for a holiday. I find it very difficult to understand what this money is for,” he said
