The Senate has descended heavily on former President Olusegun Obasanjo over allegation of self -fixing salaries leveled against it and the House of Representatives.
Former President Obasanjo was reported to have made the allegation Friday at his residence in Abeokuta while having in audience some members of the House of Representatives on the possibility of a six-year single term for President and State Governors as against renewable four-year tenure, provided for , by the 1999 Constitution.
In a strongly worded statement signed by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu in Abuja Sunday, the Senate described the allegation as uncharitable and satanic.
…Obasanjo’s claim
Obasanjo, had said it is the duty of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMFAC) to determine what public officeholders earn.
Speaking further, the former president said: “Look at your case, with all due respect, you are not supposed to fix your salaries or your allowances; it is supposed to be done by the RMFAC, but you decide what you pay yourselves, the allowances that you give yourselves — newspaper allowances, pant allowances — you give yourself all sorts of things. With due respect, you know it is not right.
“It is not right for me to be the one to declare and determine what I pay myself. It is immoral, and then you are doing it.
“The Senate is doing it, and in some cases, the executive gives you what you are not entitled to. You all got N200 million.”
…Senate fires back
Debunking the ex-president’s claim, the lawmakers said: “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. 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.
“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.
“The 10th Senate is a responsible and responsive chamber, hence would not do anything that can harm the economy and growth of Nigeria.
“It thus receives only what the relevant agency of government constitutionally allocates to it. And would never solicit for extra ludicrous perks from the other arms of Government,” the statement further said.