The Senate has strongly refuted claims made by former President Olusegun Obasanjo that federal lawmakers receive a special monetary package from the Presidency.
Obasanjo had alleged that members of the National Assembly determine their own salaries and receive financial patronage from the executive branch.
The former president made these assertions on Friday while addressing a group of House of Representatives members in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
In response, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu (APC, Ekiti South), issued a statement on Sunday, describing Obasanjo’s comments as false and misleading.
Adaramodu emphasized that the 10th Senate is a responsible and responsive legislative body, committed to the economic growth of the country.
The statement partly read, “To straighten the records, the Senate receives only the salary allocated constitutionally by the Revenue Mobilisation Fiscal Allocation Commission.
“We challenge anyone who is privileged, either in qualified or absolute position to bring forth any contrary fact. The Senators or the National Assembly do not and cannot fix their salaries.
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“Any suggestions contrary is uncharitable and satanic. It’s only an attempt to crucify the legislature by the centurions of political hypocrisy. It’s pertinent to inform the unsuspecting public that no Senator has received any monetary patronage from the Presidency. The mischievously touted consistency projects are not for the legislators.
“They are only suggested and nominated by the legislators in accordance with the practice in other democracies worldwide while the executive arm awards the contracts to qualified contractors and ensures the implementation of the projects through its respective ministries and agencies.
“And the amount varies depending on the number of constituencies in each state of the federation. It’s merely a contribution to the Federal budget to ensure that every nook and cranny of Nigeria feels federal presence,” the statement added.
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