The Senate has debunked the claim that the national assembly is responsible for fixing salaries and allowances of lawmakers.
Gatekeepers News reports that former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, on Friday, said it is immoral for national assembly members to determine their salaries and allowances.
He said Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) must decide what public office holders earn.
Spokesperson of Senate, Yemi Adaramodu in a statement released on Sunday, referred to Obasanjo’s claim as “uncharitable”.
Adaramodu said senators and members of the House of Representatives receive only what has been fixed by RMAFC.
He said, “The Nigerian Senate is petrified by the tattling story of determining its own salaries and receiving a special fiscal package from the Presidency.”
“This sordid and telltale assertion was amplified during a visit of a group of House of Representatives members to the former President Olusegun Obasanjo.”
“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.”
The senate spokesperson noted that constituency projects are only nominated by lawmakers and they do not have any business in execution.
He said, “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.”
“We are actually in a season of political pontificating when irreverent scaremongering takes prominence.”
Referring to it as a “responsible and responsive chamber”, Adaramodu emphasised that senate would not do anything to harm the country’s economy.
