National Assembly has resorted to bank facilities to pay its
staff their monthly salaries and allowances. But the facilities do nt include
the controversial running cost paid to law-maker, as well as the salaries and
allowances for their aides.
About N4.5 billion is spent on the running cost of
law-makers in the two houses of the Natinal Assembly. The sum of N13.5 million
is paid to each senator while a member of the house of Representatives gets a
little above half of this. The balance is paid out to legislative aides.
In anger last week, the legislative aides rose in protest
against the non payment of their salaries and allowances. Sources yesterday
confirmed the resort to bank overdrafts to pay salaries of strictly National
Assembly staff, but the director of information on the National Assembly, Mr.
Ishaku Adamu Dibal, said he was not aware of the development that had happened
at least twice in the past. It was gathered that August and September salaries
were paid through overdrafts.
Another ade, who also participated in the protest, Taiwo
Olaniyan, expressed regret that the issues was being shrouded in secrecy,
nothing that each time NASSLAF approached management on the matter, they would
always be told that the allowances had been released accordingly for payments.
Ishaku Adamu Dibal said, the delay in the payments of
allowances was unfortunate and attributed it to what he described as the
epileptic flow of funds to the legislature.
This major factor is affecting every aspect of the economy. Therefore,
it calls for patience on the part of every Nigeria.
Share
& Comment
Tweet