Suspicious Senators’ Holiday Allowance, A Scam – HURIWA
- Calls for Sen Akpabio’s impeachment
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) on Wednesday, August 9, 2023, expressed concerns over a viral video in which the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, purportedly spoke on the disbursement of funds to senators for holiday purposes.
This was as HURIWA described the Senate under the leadership of Akpabio as sleepy, rudderless, cash conscious, unpatriotic, and anti-poor just.
Accordingly, it asked the Senate President to step aside and subject himself to an investigation by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission for violating the relevant laws on lawful allowances or be impeached without further waste of time.
The Rights group also warned Nigerians to be ready for a long-drawn battle to safeguard democracy, saying that as it is, the legislature and the Judiciary are now both captives and political hostages of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
HURIWA in a statement its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko demanded transparency and accountability by urging the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the ICPC to summon the Senate President for a thorough explanation.
HURIWA noted that public outrage and scepticism have trailed Akpabio’s comment and therefore demanded that the Senate President provide comprehensive clarification regarding the source, purpose, and amount of the funds disbursed.
With a firm call to action, HURIWA emphasized that if Akpabio fails to provide the needed information, Nigerians will be left with no choice but to believe that the funds were, in fact, payments for ministerial clearance.
HURIWA further said; “The timing of this revelation is deeply concerning, especially in the wake of the controversial ministerial screening process. If Senator Akpabio doesn’t want the people of Nigeria to think aloud about the cash largesse he announced for Senators, then let him surrender to ICPC immediately for investigation.
“Failure to do so should be taken as an affront to constitutionalism and therefore should be impeached or recalled by his constituents,” it said.
HURIWA’s also criticized the opacity of the ministerial screening procedure, likening it to an exclusive secret society enlistment program, despite being televised, even as it specifically questioned the transparency of the entire process and raised concerns about undue influence from the executive arm of the government.
HURIWA further asked; “Are National Assembly members entitled to holiday allowances? If so, how much are they entitled to, and have they met the duration of service required to start earning allowances? Furthermore, is the holiday allowances included in the approved payments under the revenue mobilization structure?
The Rights group said that the crux of its concerns revolved around the entitlement and disbursement of the allowances for National Assembly members which are stipulated by the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Allocation Commission.
According to HURIWA; “These include accommodation (200% of basic salary), domestic staff (75% of basic salary), utilities (30% of basic salary), house maintenance (5% of basic salary), wardrobe (25% of basic salary), and furniture (300% of basic salary)”.
HURIWA therefore underscored the need for transparency, fairness, and accountability within Nigeria’s legislative processes, adding that as Nigeria’s democracy and governance stand at a critical juncture, there was the need for the nation to uphold the principles of justice, transparency, and equal representation.
It challenged all citizens to demand answers and actively participate in safeguarding the integrity of the country’s democratic institutions.
