The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has cleared the air on
the ward-robe allowance for the members of the National Assembly, saying each
senator is entitled to N506,600 annually and not N8.64 billion as reported in
the media.
“Chairman of Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission was in my office to clarify wardrobe allowance,” Mr. Saraki wrote on twitter Wednesday. “Amount is N506,600 per Senator.”
Mr. Saraki, in response to the media reports that the N460
senators and members of the House of Representatives would receive a whopping
N8.64 billion, quoted his interview with BBC in his tweeter handle that “a body
responsible for setting up the salaries and allowances was looking into the
matter and would publish details of the remuneration on its website.”
Stating that the legislature would be accountable to the
people, the senate president said it was not true that each senator would be
paid N8.64billion as reported by two Nigerian newspapers.
Speaking earlier while receiving the Chairman of the Revenue
Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Elias Mbam and his team in his
office, Mr. Saraki said the Commission is charged with fixing of remunerations
to public office holders and advise the media to be more accurate in their
reporting.
He warned government agencies failing in remitting Federal
Government revenue to the Federation account saying government will no longer
condone such mismanagement act.
According to him, non-compliance by agencies of government
had brought major setback in the processes of governance.
Mr. Saraki reiterated the support of the Senate in bringing
back justice to any erring agency that indulges in diverting government revenue
to illegal channel adding, “Monetary revenue and allocation is a serious
challenge to our economy. Though, diversification of economy is very important
but is not an overnight issue. We must block every leakage in government
revenue.
“We made campaign promises to Nigerians and we must fulfill all our pledges. It cannot be business as usual. We will do everything within our capacity to elevate the living standard of Nigerians.”
Earlier, Mr. Mbam said the agency have always enjoyed
cordial relationship with the National Assembly while calling for continued
working partnership with the view to enhance their effectiveness.
Mr. Mbam condemned the recent media report that exaggerated
the wardrobe allowances of Senators and members of the House of Representatives
saying, that wardrobe allowance is 25 percent of the basic salary which when
broken down amounts to N506, 600 per legislator, per annum.
He advised that the agency operates a functional website where
information concerning the day-to-day activities of the agency is published.
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