The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sabi Abdullahi, stated this on Wednesday in Abuja, while presenting a paper at a one-day capacity building workshop for journalists covering the Senate.

Abdullahi said the president’s order would be enforced to further crash prices of food items by ensuring the safe passage of products through various routes across the country.

He emphasised that the committee’s action was aimed at realising Tinubu’s vision on food sovereignty.

According to Abdullahi, the federal government was fully committed to addressing the high prices of transportation of farm produce in the country.

He said, “I can say it on good authority to you that the president has given a marching order with a federal executive council committee already handling it.

“On how we are going to promote safe passage of agricultural foods and commodities across our various routes in the country, we are aware, and I’m sure as media, you are also aware, there are routes through which commodities are taken before they are delivered.

“If you know the amount of money that is being spent, you can now understand why those commodities have to be expensive at the point of delivery.

“So, we are working very hard, we are doing quite a lot. But I’ve just given you a snippet because I’m here, and I felt we should look at that.”

Abdullahi explained that the vision for food sovereignty was within the ambit of food security and food sufficiency which encompassed availability of food, accessibility as well as affordability, and in right nutritional content on a sustainable basis.

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According to him, other programmes such as the ‘Farmer Soil Health Scheme and Cooperative Reform’ were also awaiting implementation .

“We are having what you call the Farmer Soil Health Scheme. And that is ready for launch, we are just waiting for the date.

“Mr President has shown tremendous interest in the cooperative sector as a veritable tool for resource mobilisation, for economic activity generation and to improve the livelihood of members.

“And you know the principle of cooperative is clear, is democratic, yet it is also very productive. And so we are reforming this.

“There are things we are doing there and I will urge you, as a press corps, to consider forming a cooperative,” he said.

The workshop, with the theme: “Parliamentary Reporting: Issues, Challenges and Responsibilities also had as resource person the Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Sen.Yemi Adaramodu.

Other resource persons included Sen. Ita Enang and Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, NILDS, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman.

Source: NAN

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Akpoti-Uduaghan, who had earlier vowed to resume legislative activities on Tuesday, arrived at the National Assembly complex at exactly 12.20 pm.

Among those who accompanied her were a prominent political activist, Aisha Yesufu, and several of her supporters.

However, there were reports that the suspended senator was barred from accessing the main building by security personnel.

Security had earlier been beefed up at the National Assembly complex, apparently owing to the resumption threat by the suspended senator.

The armed security personnel at the main gate of the National Assembly comprised the police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, the Department of State Services, DSS, and the Sergeant-at-Arms.

The situation resulted in long queues of vehicles at the main entrance to the nation’s parliament, as the security operatives were ensuring thorough checks to ensure that Akpoti-Uduaghan did not beat the security network and enter the complex.

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The Senate had reaffirmed, for the third time, that there was no subsisting court order mandating it to recall the senator before the expiration of her suspension.

Senate’s spokesperson, Sen. Yemi Adaramodu, had reaffirmed the upper chamber’s position in a statement on Sunday.

“This clarification becomes necessary, following the circulating claims by the suspended senator that she intends to resume at the Senate Tuesday.

“This is based on a misinterpretation of the recent judgment delivered by Hon. Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja,” he had said.

Source: NAN

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It therefore advised her to stay away from the Senate chambers and allow due process to run its full course.

The Senate gave the warning on Sunday in a statement by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Yemi Adaramodu.

Adaramodu said the clarification became necessary following circulating claims by the suspended senator that she intended to resume at the Senate on Tuesday.

He said the suspended senator hinged her resolve to resume based on the misinterpretation of recent judgment delivered by Justice Binta Nyako of Federal High Court, Abuja.

Adaramodu said Senate had, through his office, issued two public statements following the judgment and the subsequent release of the Certified True Copy of the enrolled order.

He said Senate in both statements made it unequivocally clear that the judgment did not contain any positive or mandatory order directing the upper chamber to recall Akpoti-Uduaghan prior to the end of her suspension.

He said the court rather gave a non-binding advisory urging the senate to consider amending its Standing Orders and reviewing the suspension, which it opined might be excessive.

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The chairman of the committee said the court, however, explicitly held that the Senate did not breach any law or constitutional provision in imposing the disciplinary measure based on the senator’s misconduct during plenary.

“Furthermore, the court found Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan guilty of contempt of court and imposed penalties, including a fine of N5 million payable to the Federal Government, and a mandatory apology in two national newspapers and on her Facebook page.

“Till date, these directives remain uncomplied with.

“It is therefore surprising and legally untenable that Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan, while on appeal and having filed a motion for stay against the valid and binding orders made against her, is attempting to act upon an imaginary order of recall that does not exist.

“Senate emphasizes once more, there is no enforceable order directing her immediate return to the chamber,”Adaramodu said.

“We advise the distinguished senator to refrain from any attempt to storm the Senate next Tuesday under a false pretext, as doing so would not only be premature but also undermine the dignity of the Senate and violate due process.

”The senate, as a law-abiding institution, is committed to upholding the rule of law and the integrity of its proceedings. It will not tolerate the disruption of its proceedings.”

Adaramodu said Senate would at the appropriate time, consider the advisory opinion of the court on both amending its standing orders, her recall, and communicate same to Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan.

“Until then, she is respectfully advised to stay away from the Senate chambers and allow due process to run its full course,” he said.

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The Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Yemi Adaramodu, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, on Sunday in Abuja.

The Senate had, on March 6, suspended Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months amid the sexual harassment allegation she had made against Akpabio.

The suspension came after a recommendation from the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions, as presented by the Chairman of the Committee, Sen. Neda Imasuen (APC-Edo South).

As part of the suspension, the senator’s salary and security details were withdrawn, while she was barred from accessing the National Assembly premises.

She later took the matter to a Federal High Court, Abuja Division, where the presiding judge, Justice Binta Nyako, last week ordered the Senate to recall her from suspension.

The court, however, sanctioned Akpoti-Uduaghan for contempt and ordered her to pay N5 million fine.

Adaramodu, who is the Senate spokesperson, said that the upper legislative chamber had applied for the CTC, stressing that until the document was received and studied, the Senate could not take a position on the matter.

“The Senate had applied for the CTC since Monday. We expect to get the document, and once we get it, we are going to comply with the content of the court order.

“But first, the Senate will sit and consider the contents of the CTC and when we look at the contents, then we shall take a position,’’ he said.

Adaramodu noted with concern that some Nigerians were fanning the Akpoti-Uduaghan matter out of their low level of understanding of the workings of the Senate.

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He said that those acting in that direction were merely wishing the National Assembly to be a lawless institution.

“The Senate, by law, is empowered to make its rules that guide it. If we don’t have rules guiding us, we will become like barbarians.

“If there is no rule on seating, it means early in the morning, I can wake up and say I want to sit where the president of the senate is sitting because he is my colleague, and that will turn the whole place into chaos and pandemonium.

“It was on the strength of the aforesaid that the court recently averred in the case between Natasha and Akpabio that there are rules and that the senate is constitutionally empowered to make rules that will guide its activities.

“It was for this that we have Standing Orders. And enforcing the orders means that anybody that contravenes it, the aggregated whole chamber of the senate can reprimand such a person,’’ he said.

He also expressed the regret that even when the court ruling had given vent to that, some people were still saying something else.

“Possibly, what they were expecting was that anybody can disobey; anybody can break any rule and that the senate must not take any stand,’’ he said.

According to him, if it is established that the senate can reprimand an offending senator and that it is not in their books how many days or hours such senator being reprimanded can be given, then it is at the discretion of the senate to apportion period for the suspension of a member being reprimanded.

“Whoever that is not a legislator cannot understand how the legislature works,” he said.

The senator, representing Ekiti South Senatorial District, explained that the 180 days suspension handed down to Akpoti-Uduaghan included non-parliamentary days.

“What the senate rules say is that you should observe, adhere to and fulfill the 180 parliamentary days,’’ he said.

Source: NAN

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The Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Sen. Yemi Adaramodu, said this in a statement in Abuja.

He stated that the CTC of the judgment was necessary for a thorough review and informed determination of the next course of action.

He stated that pending receipt of the CTC, the Senate would refrain from taking any step that might prejudice its legal position regarding Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension.

“The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria acknowledges that judgment was delivered on July 4th by the Federal High Court, Abuja, in the suit instituted by Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

“However, the Senate is yet to be served with the certified true copy (CTC) of the said judgment.

“Our legal representatives, who were in attendance at the proceedings, have confirmed that the complete judgment was not read in open court.

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“Consequently, we have formally applied for the CTC to enable a thorough review and informed determination of the appropriate legal response, particularly in view of the uncertainty surrounding whether the court made any direct order nullifying the suspension of Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan.

“Since no party to the case has been officially served the enrolled order of the judgement, none can enforce any perceived order or relief.

“Pending receipt and examination of the CTC, and acting on the advice of counsel, the Senate shall refrain from taking any step that may prejudice its legal position,” he said.

Adaramodu expressed the Senate’s commitment to upholding the rule of law, stressing that it would act strictly in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria upon full clarification of the court’s pronouncements.

While urging the public to remain patient, he assured of Senate’s fidelity to due process, as it awaits CTC of the court ruling to determine the next course of action.

Source: NAN

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Chairman of the committee, Sen. Neda Imaseun (LP-Edo), made this statement during an investigative hearing on petitions related to alleged misconduct by Akpoti-Uduaghan and allegations of sexual harassment against Akpabio.

During Wednesday’s plenary, Akpoti-Uduaghan had announced her petition, read it aloud, and submitted it, with Akpabio accepting it.

“I have a petition against the President of the Nigerian Senate, His Excellency Sen. Godswill Akpabio, for sexual harassment, abuse of office, and malicious obstruction of my legislative functions,” she said.

“You may recall, sir, that on Friday, during an Arise TV interview, I made certain statements. I have now decided to formalise those statements in a petition against the president of this senate.

“So, if it pleases you, I will humbly step forward and lay this petition.”

However, a heated debate ensued when Senate Chief Whip, Sen. Mohammed Monguno, citing Order 40(4), argued that Senate rules must be strictly followed.

Order 40(4) states: “No senator may present to the Senate a petition signed by himself.”

Monguno warned that any deviation from the rules could lead to “chaos and anarchy” and emphasised the senate’s duty to uphold its procedural integrity.

He further noted that the matter was already subjudice, as Akpoti-Uduaghan had taken the case to court.

“And also, the wife of the senate president has equally gone to court in respect of this matter. So, this matter is subjudiced.

“Therefore, the senate does not have to do anything to entertain this matter,” he said.

He advised that the matter should be referred to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.

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In his remarks, the President of the Senate Godswill Akpabio said “the Senate actually referred her matter not because I’m not aware of the provisions of the rules.

“It is because when people are watching from outside, they may not know we are guided by rules.”

Imaseun at the investigative hearing after plenary said:

“It is the procedure of this committee, as a matter of fact, the first thing we ask when the petition comes to us is whether or not that petition is before any law court.

“And if the answer is yes, we do not touch such petitions.

“In addition to that, our Red Book also, under Order 40, has also laid down the processes that must be followed before a petition is laid.

“If you allow me, Order 40 of our rule book, subsection 4, says that no senator may present to the Senate a petition signed by him or herself.

“In other words, I cannot submit a petition about myself, signed by myself; that petition ought to be presented by another senator.

“And I’m sure that there are three senators from Kogi, as it is with other states, and that was not done.

“That report, we will not even touch it because it’s a matter before the court.

“We do not place much emphasis on this order that was presented. We are referring back to our rule book. As I said earlier, the petition she submitted today is ‘dead on arrival.’

“I say this because it directly contradicts Order 40, Subsection 4, which states that no senator may present a petition in the Senate that is signed by themselves.

“Since the petition was signed by her, this committee will not entertain it.”

The committee had earlier launched an investigation into the alleged disorderly conduct of Akpoti-Uduaghan during the plenary session on February 20.

The senate had referred a petition, presented by its spokesperson, Sen. Yemi Adaramodu (APC-Ekiti), to the committee on February 25, mandating it to submit its report within two weeks.

The petition stemmed from the controversy surrounding a recent altercation between Akpoti-Uduaghan and the Senate leadership over seat allocation.

Present at the hearing to make presentations were the petition’s author, Sen. Adaramodu; Chairman of the Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Sen. Titus Zam (APC-Benue); and the Sergeant-at-Arms of the Senate, Mr Murthar Usman.

However, Akpoti-Uduaghan was absent from the investigative hearing.

Speaking further on the alleged disorderly conduct, Imaseun said:

“Ladies and gentlemen, she’s not here, now I can understand why she’s not here; she’s probably not here on the order of her lawyers, that being the case, the committee will sit and will deliberate on what we’ve gotten.

“Senators have presented their cases before us based on our rule book and all other documents that are available to us, we shall make a decision here, and then present to the full senate,” he said.

Source: NAN        

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The committee, chaired by Sen. Neda Imaseun (LP, Edo), was mandated to turn in its findings in two weeks.

The upper chamber’s resolution was sequel to a voice vote after the lawmakers had revisited the controversy surrounding the recent altercation between Akpoti-Uduaghan and the Senate leadership over seat allocation.

Coming under Order 1(b) and 10, the Senate’s spokesperson, Sen. Yemi Adaramodu, condemned what he described as Akpoti-Uduaghan’s “extreme intransigence” during the Senate session on February 20.

“From that Thursday, the media was awash with this issue and I had to work on mending the perception of the 10th senate.

“The senate is not a platform for content creation but a place for lawmaking and oversight functions,” he said.

Adaramodu urged the senate leadership to enforce discipline, warning that ‘where there is sin, there must be penalty’.

“This chamber is not a place for theatrics or social media content creation. We are here to legislate, advocate for our constituents and provide oversight over MDAs, not to engage in media dramatisation,” he said.

Sen. Jimoh Ibrahim (APC-Ondo) also supported the motion, emphasising the importance of maintaining order and decorum in the senate.

Ibrahim urged all senators to respect the institution’s guiding rules, comparing the Standing Orders to the Bible and Quran for lawmakers.

Also, the Senate Leader, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele, moved a motion for the disciplinary review, affirming the senate’s commitment to its rules and internal order.

According to him, there is no one who does not have an opinion on this issue, but we are unified by our rules.

“Under our watch, we will not allow this institution to be discredited beyond what we inherited. Our integrity is non-negotiable,” he said.

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Bamidele dismissed claims that the dispute was rooted in gender bias or discrimination, citing examples of senior senators who had accepted seat changes without protest.

Contributing, the Senate Minority Leader, Sen. Abba Moro, described the incident as “an avoidable drama” and apologised on behalf of Akpoti-Uduaghan.

He urged the senate to focus on its legislative responsibilities, while allowing the ethics committee to handle the matter.

Responding, President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, directed the committee on ethics and privileges to review the entire incident and report back to the chamber in two weeks.

According to Akpabio, the senate rules allow members to sit anywhere, but that contributions must be made from their designated seats.

He said that lack of familiarity with the senate procedures might have contributed to the altercation.

“The first day she (Akpoti-Uduaghan) was sworn in, she stood up to contribute and I was worried if she had even read the rule book.

“There is nothing wrong with being vibrant but everything is wrong with disobeying procedures,” he said.

Citing Order 66(2) and Section 55 of Senate rules, he underscored the need for senators to conduct themselves with decorum, including prohibitions on chewing gum, drinking water or being disruptive during sittings.

“The rules empower the senate president to suspend a senator for infractions for, at least, 14 days. It’s not me who made the rules; it’s in the rule book,” Akpabio said.

Source: NAN

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Nigeria’s second arm of government, the Legislature, is in the eye of the storm again! Tongues keep wagging the National Assembly basically on two issues that keep recurring. The first has to do with its salaries, allowances, emoluments and perquisites, which many believe are out of this world and out of tune with realities. The second is how effectively and diligently it has performed its oversight functions on the Executive arm of government.

Many Nigerians are more concerned with the first than the second. Complaints about the humongous take-home of the National Assembly members have always been a sore point for Nigerians who cannot see what service the legislators are rendering to justify their huge pay. Besides, the country is said to be too poor to pay the lawmakers salaries that are far superior to what the developed countries and advanced democracies pay their own lawmakers.

Hence, various derogatory names have been given to our senators and honourables, one of which is legislooters. With cries of “we are hungry” all over the place, the groundswell of opinion is that it cannot be business as usual for the National Assembly members. But rather than thaw, the coconut leaf of the legislators hardens furthermore. How can our leaders live life to a hilt while preaching to the generality of the people to tighten their belt and accept austerity measures? Why is it that what is good for the goose is not also good for the gander?

The fire of controversy was stoked again by the revelation of a sitting senator that he earns N21m per month – and he is not even a principal officer! Which means that the principal officers must be earning every month something way ahead of that. A news medium reported the squealing senator thus:

“The lawmaker representing Kano South, Senator Sumaila Kawu, has revealed that he earns over N21m monthly as a total take-home package. This revelation is coming barely 24 hours after the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission had said that each of the 109 senators in the upper chamber receives a total of N1.06m in salary and allowances per month. The RMAFC chairman, Mohammed Shehu, said this as a form of clarification in response to recent controversies over the real amount each lawmaker earns per month. Based on Shehu’s disclosure, it would mean each lawmaker earns N12.72m in 12 months and the Federal Government incurs a total expenditure of N1.4bn annually on all senators.

“A breakdown of their monthly earnings revealed that each Senator collects a monthly salary and allowances of N1,063,860, consisting of a basic salary of N168,866:70; motor vehicle fueling and maintenance allowance, N126,650:00; and personal assistant allowance, N42,216:66. Others include domestic staff, N126,650:00; entertainment, N50,660:00; utilities, N50,660:00; newspapers/periodicals, N25,330:00; wardrobe, N42,216,66:00; house maintenance, N8,443.33:00; and constituency allowance, N422,166:66.

“Shehu in the statement had noted, “The commission also wishes to use this opportunity to state that any allegation regarding other allowance(s) being enjoyed by any political (or) public office holder outside those provided in the Remuneration (Amendment) Act, 2008 should be explained by the person who made the allegation. To avoid misinformation and misrepresentation of facts capable of misleading citizens and members of the international community, the commission considers it most appropriate and necessary to request Nigerians and any other interested party to avail themselves of the opportunity to access the actual details of the present remuneration package for political, public and judicial office holders in Nigeria published on its website: www.rmafc.gov.ng.

“However, Senator Kawu… disclosed that although his monthly salary is about N1m, his total take-home was N21m, a wide margin from figures quoted by RMFAC”.

This was how a news medium reported the latest controversy over the recurring issue of the pay of National Assembly members. Who should we believe: The RMFAC purportedly fixing the salaries or the senator taking the salaries home?

Until the National Assembly comes to the open and is transparent in its affairs, it will continue to carry the odious reputation of an insensitive arm of government and a cesspit of corruption. Worse for the Senate is the fact that the cantankerous, even childish, irresponsible and insensitive outbursts of its presiding officer has not helped matters at all!

The scripture says “By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established” (2 Corinthians 13:1). Kawu, who made the disclosure of N21m salary per month is a sitting senator. The second witness we are calling here today is a former senator, Shehu Sani. Another news medium reported Sani thus:

“Amid the controversy over the monthly earnings of federal lawmakers, Senator Shehu Sani has maintained that he received N13 million as a member of the 8th Senate while current members of the 10th Senate receive N21 million monthly. The revelation by the former lawmaker, who represented Kaduna Central in the 8th Senate, followed the stance of the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) that Senators earn N1 million each. Sani… insisted that the RMAFC is being economical with the truth.

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“He said, ‘I was a senator and I believe I had correct knowledge about what actually happened at that time and I believe (it) is what is (still) happening now. Well, RMAFC was just playing with figures, they were (not) specific in saying this is the salary of senators and then they went on to give a breakdown of N20 million, which they said was what every senator earns in four years. But I think they are being economical with the truth and I think I understand their fears in terms of telling the truth when they know what is actually happening…

“’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 (10th Senate), 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 being given. I went on as a serving senator then to disclose what I received monthly, what was credited into my account at that time and it was N13.5 million.’

“The former lawmaker said he does not believe there is any need to deceive Nigerians or cover up anything. He said since legislators receive public funds, it is necessary for those involved to come out and say it as it is”.

It remains now for us to hear from the horse’s mouth, as they say. What is the Senate’s response to these allegations?  It’s spokesperson, Yemi Adaramodu, was reported by another news medium thus:

“The Nigerian Senate, on Thursday, debunked reports that lawmakers in the upper chamber of the National Assembly receive ₦21 million monthly as salary and allowances. The Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Adeyemi Adaramodu, made this clarification in a statement in Abuja. According to him, running costs, as mentioned by Senator Abdurrahman Kawu Sumaila, is not peculiar to the National Assembly, and neither is the mentioned amount a personal emolument for any senator. The explanation follows the disclosure by Sumaila, who represents Kano South senatorial district of Kano State in the National Assembly, that senators get ₦21 million monthly each as allowances and running costs….

“The disclosure generated fresh controversy over the earnings of Nigerian lawmakers amidst the allegation by former President Olusegun Obasanjo that members of the National Assembly fix bogus salaries and allowances for themselves in contravention of extant laws. However, Adaramodu said that “running cost” was quite different from the salary and personal allowances of the lawmakers. He explained that running cost is not personal to any lawmaker but (is) used for official purposes, such as maintaining lawmakers’ constituency offices and staff, oversight functions and community engagements.

“The Senate spokesperson said the lawmakers do not engage in wasteful spending, explaining that: ‘The Nigerian Senate is an Assembly of accomplished and successful professionals, administrators and captains of industries who are not driven by these often-touted egregious pecuniary bits, rather (by) their patriotic zeal in the nation’s quest to breathe life (into) Nigeria’s political and socioeconomic dry bones’.

“Adaramodu said the Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Allocation Commission (RMAFC) has already clarified and disclosed the monthly salary of lawmakers in the country and all other figures apart from what the commission declared should be ignored. ‘For the umpteenth time, the Senate is compelled to react to the obsolete allegations of a phantom salary and personal emoluments spuriously credited to senators monthly. The Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Allocation Commission, the agency of government that fixes political officials’ salaries and allowances, has duly disclosed the monthly personal take-home of senators. However, all arms of Government and their personnel, Governors, Ministers, Permanent Secretaries, Directors-General, State Commissioners, even Boards and parastatals, including local government councils, run their activities with running costs and the National Assembly is not an exemption.

‘Thus, the money referred to by Senator Kawu Sumaila is neither his salary nor personal allowance. It’s for the daily running of offices by senators and other attached statutory officials. It equally provides funds for constituency office staff. It is also for oversight functions and community engagements. This fund is not static and is provided for in the annual budget. Such funds are retired by relevant officers after being used for official purposes and proof of genuine expenditure (provided). It’s not a personal allowance or salary of the legislator.

‘The National Assembly receives about one per cent of the federal budget and has never exceeded this, even when the non-availability of funds (was not) pervasive. The Nigerian Senate is an Assembly of accomplished and successful professionals, administrators and captains of industries who are not driven by these often-touted egregious pecuniary bits; rather, by their patriotic zeal in the nation’s quest to breathe life into Nigeria’s political and socioeconomic dry bones’, he said”.

From the above submissions made by Senator Sumaila Kawu, ex-Senator Shehu Sani and the Senate spokesperson Adeyemi Adaramodu, it can be deduced that the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission is the one that is being economical with the truth. Each senator’s “take-home” of N21 million per month, to adopt Senator Kawu’s terminology, is light years ahead of the measly sum of N1.06 million being put forward by the RMAFC.

Kawu and Shehu Sani’s testimonies corroborate each other. They are eye witnesses and their accounts are authentic eye witness accounts. In fact, whatever we hear from them can be taken as having been heard from the horse’s mouth. They are witnesses of truth because they are beneficiaries of the humongous perquisites in issue and cannot be said to harbour malice or have sinister or ulterior motives to paint the Senate in bad light.

Besides, Adaramodu did not in any way debunk the assertions that the senators of the 10th Senate earn the N21 million or more that Kawu averred to; he only said the amount was not meant as personal salaries and allowances for senators. I have no problem understanding that. I also perfectly understand – and sympathize – with the National Assembly that while all eyes are trained on it, other arms and tiers of government such as agencies, ministries, departments and parastatals engage in similar or even worse corner-cutting and moonlighting with public funds than the legislators do but get away with blue murder in broad daylight. Why scapegoat the National Assembly, then; if you understand what we mean! They have a point there; don’t you think?

But that there are similar or even bigger rogues elsewhere does not vitiate your own bad conduct! What the National Assembly should do to exculpate itself once and for all from its odious public image is to be open and transparent with its members’ salaries and allowances, from the Senate president/Speaker of the House of Representatives to the principal officers and other members. As it is, all the allowances and salaries meant for this or that and funds for constituency activities may be what some senators and honourable members pull together and siphon into their own pocket, which should not be so.

Until the National Assembly comes to the open and is transparent in its affairs, it will continue to carry the odious reputation of an insensitive arm of government and a cesspit of corruption. Worse for the Senate is the fact that the cantankerous, even childish, irresponsible and insensitive outbursts of its presiding officer has not helped matters at all!

*Bolawole (turnpot@gmail.com 0807 552 5533), former Editor of PUNCH newspapers, Chairman of its Editorial Board and Deputy Editor-in-chief, was also the Managing Director/ Editor-in-chief of the Westerner newsmagazine. He writes the “ON THE LORD’S DAY” column in the Sunday Tribune and “TREASURES” column in the New Telegraph newspapers. He is also a public affairs analyst on radio and television.

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His death was confirmed on Saturday in a statement by the Senate spokesperson, Sen. Yemi Adaramodu, in Abuja.

Adaramodu stated that “it is with deep sorrow and profound regret that the Senate announces the passing of our esteemed colleague, Sen. Ifeanyi Ubah, who, until his passing, represented Anambra South Senatorial District.

“Ubah was an exemplary leader, a committed public servant and an indefatigable advocate for his constituents.

“His untimely departure represents a significant loss to the Senate, his community and the nation at large.”

He added that Ubah had distinguished himself as a prominent businessman and a philanthropist.

He stated that as the Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Capital Oil and Gas Industries Limited, Ubah made substantial contributions to Nigeria’s energy sector and created job opportunities.

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Adaramodu said that through the Ifeanyi Ubah Foundation, his philanthropic endeavours provided scholarships, healthcare and vital support to the less-privileged, impacting countless lives.

“Throughout his tenure in the Senate, Ubah demonstrated unwavering dedication to the progress and development of Anambra South and Nigeria as a whole.

“He was a beacon of hope, a champion of economic empowerment and a steadfast supporter of legislative reforms aimed at improving the lives of all Nigerians,” he added.

He quoted the President of the Senate, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, as expressing his condolences, noting that “Sen. Ubah was a dedicated and passionate legislator whose contributions left an indelible mark on our nation.

“His commitment to his constituents and his work in the Senate were exemplary. He will be greatly missed by all who had the privilege of knowing and working with him.

“The Nigerian Senate extends deepest sympathies to Sen. Ubah’s family, friends and constituents.

“We also offer our heartfelt condolences to the government and people of Anambra.

“We pray that they find strength and solace in the legacy of service and dedication he leaves behind.

“His memory will forever remain in our hearts and his contributions to our nation’s progress will continue to inspire us all.”

Source: NAN

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