Obasanjo

Senator Sumaila Kawu of Kano South has accused former President Olusegun Obasanjo of introducing corruption into the National Assembly.

This accusation follows Obasanjo’s recent criticism of lawmakers for setting their own salaries and allowances amid Nigeria’s economic challenges.

Kawu responded to Obasanjo’s remarks in a a statement on Thursday’s edition of Channels Television’s The Morning Brief.

“When you are talking about corruption, it is Obasanjo who introduced corruption into the National Assembly,” Kawu stated.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports further asserted, “I have proof because it is his government and his associates who corrupted some members of the National Assembly for them to alter the Constitution for him to continue (to contest for a third term as president).”

The issue of lawmakers’ salaries and allowances has been contentious and shrouded in secrecy.

The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) reports that each senator earns N1 million, with a detailed breakdown as follows:

Basic Salary: ₦168,866.70

Motor Vehicle Fuelling and Maintenance Allowance: ₦126,650.00

Personal Assistant: ₦42,216.66

Domestic Staff: ₦126,650.00

Entertainment: ₦50,660.00

Utilities: ₦50,660.00

Newspapers/Periodicals: ₦25,330.00

Wardrobe: ₦42,216.66

House Maintenance: ₦8,443.33

Constituency Allowance: ₦422,166.66

Kawu claimed that senators actually receive N21 million monthly. This claim was echoed by former lawmaker Senator Sani, who discussed the issue on Channels Television’s Lunchtime Politics.

“Before I came to this interview, I was going through the papers and I saw a statement credited to one of the Senators from Kano, Distinguished Senator Kawu Ismaila, who confirmed what I said about senators, particularly of this set receiving up to N21 million monthly.

“During my time, I was in the Senate and I was pricked by my conscience as an activist who went to the Senate to unveil what has been made secret for over two decades. I believe that taxpayers and Nigerians in general have the right to know how much their legislators are earning and how much they are actually been given. I went on as a serving Senator then to disclose what I do receive monthly, what is credited into my account at that time and it was N13.5 million”, Senator Sani said on Channels Television Lunchtime Politics.

In response to Obasanjo’s allegations, the National Assembly described his comments as uncharitable.

Senate spokesman Yemi Adaramodu challenged anyone with credible evidence to refute the official figures.

“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 a qualified or absolute position to bring forth any contrary fact,” he said in a statement.

“The Senators or the National Assembly do not and cannot fix their salaries. 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.”

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