Abuja the political capital of Nigeria is abuzz with
reports that a sum of N9billion has been set aside for
payment of wardrobe allowance to both members of
House of Representatives and Senate aside other
emoluments like furniture, Housing and Vehicle
allowance, on top
of their legitimate salary.
Each Senator is entitled to N21.5m, Each Rep to receive
N17.5m It was reliably gathered that the wardrobe
allowance will be paid to? individual account of all
lawmakers immediate they resume for legislative activities.
This scandalous story reminds me of Senegalese lawmakers,
who are divided between a 150-seat national assembly and
a 100-seat senate. They in 2012 voted to do away with the
senate, passing a law which dissolved the institution in order
to save an estimated $15 million.
President Sall (L) is seen with his then Nigerian
counterpart Goodluck Jonathan. AFP photo
Senegal’s President Macky Sall had announced that he plans
to introduce a law which will indefinitely suspend the
country’s senate in order to redirect the money used to run
the institution to help victims of this week’s flooding.
His Minister of Justice Aminata Toure explained that the
suspension of the senate is intended to curb government
spending, and will provide the cash needed to help the
victims of the yearly rains which have left thousands
homeless and killed at least 13 people.
“I have decided to immediately put forward a constitutional
reform in order to disband the Senate. The resources which
would have been used by this institution, close to $1.6
million, will instead be consecrated to finding a solution to
the flooding,” President Sall said.
Sall, a former head of the National Assembly, was elected
April 2012, promising to stem the corruption which had
characterized the former regime.
According to a U.S. Embassy cable, published by WikiLeaks,
the Senegalese senators each receive a monthly salary of
around $2,000, a new car and a monthly gasoline allowance.
Most of Senegal’s 12.7 million people live on $158 a month,
according to U.S. State Department statistics.
Nigeria’s new president, Muhammadu Buhari, has admitted
the country’s economy was in a precarious state as a result
of falling oil prices, depleted foreign reserves and mounting
debts.
In an inaugural address in Abuja on Friday, May 29, after he
was sworn he pledged to rebuild institutions and said that
with careful management the country would be “uplifted”.
The 72-year-old former military ruler's first task should be to
emulate Senegal’s President Macky Sall.
The Nigerian senate, a relatively recent institution, has
become a symbol of government waste. It's been frequently
pilloried and described as an instrument of cronyism, a way
to rehabilitate failed politicians and idle rich men. Around
half the senators are former governors and former
government ministers, former military Generals or former
reps.
Further investigation revealed that? housing allowance for
the political office holders is 200 per cent of their annual
salaries; furniture is 300 per cent and motor vehicle loan is
400 per cent.
Also, Specifically 107 senators aside the Senate President
and Deputy Senate President would be paid N4, 052,800
million as housing allowance. They will also be paid the
same amount every year because the housing allowance is
on annual basis.
This means that 107 senators will be paid a total of N433,
649,600m as housing allowance annually since both the
Senate President and the Deputy Senate President are
provided accommodation by the Federal Government.
Similarly, each member of the House of Representatives will
be paid N3, 970,425 as housing allowance on assumption of
office.
This means that the 358 representatives will be collecting a
total of N1, 421,412,150 as housing allowance. Again, the
Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of
Representatives are excluded from this allowance as the
Federal Government is to provide their own
accommodation.
For furniture, each of the senators is to get N6, 079,200. The
furniture for both the Senate President and his deputy are to
be fully provided by the government. This means that 107
senators will get a total of N650, 474,400
The Federal Capital Territory Administration is presently
building new houses for the four presiding offices at both
chambers - Senate President, the Deputy Senate President,
the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker.
Each member of the House of Representatives will be paid
N5, 955,637.50 as furniture allowance. This means that 358
representatives (excluding the speaker and his deputy) will
collect a total of N2, 132,118,225 for furniture.
For vehicle, each of the senators is entitled to N8, 105,600
while each representative is entitled to N7, 940,850.50. This
means that 107 senators will collect N867, 299,200 for
vehicle while 358 representatives will collect N2, 842,824,479
for the same purpose.
From all indications, Nigeria's is a very expensive
democracy. The ascetic Buhari should IMMEDIATELY send a
bill to the National assembly disbanding the Senate.
Why should our hard earned federally generated financial
resources be blown away in the winds of frivolity to
purchase articles of clothing for this extremely privileged
class.
It's surely only in a prodigal nation like Nigeria that a certain
political class would be so much pampered and spoilt with
official pecks and the other paraphernalia that bleeds the
commonwealth of all Nigerians to a near death.
"Only in a banana republic like Nigeria where survival is for
and by the brutes that such official perfidy is tolerated by
the rest of the starving millions of citizens", said Emmanuel
Onwubiko.

Hmmmmm nawao...such money...well if we r given d chance...dats wat sum of us will do....i know my time is coming

Will he want to do it?

The President can't disband the National Assembly rather the NASS can send him packing if they so desire.


This is what our constitution supports

in Nigeria hence it is case concerning the national assembly, both the leaders and the leads hand are tied. in fact nobody can talk, talk less of taking action. Nigeria is in a confused state moving in circle daily.

IsraeliAIRFORCE:
The President can't disband the National Assembly rather the NASS can send him packing if they so desire.


This is what our constitution supports

In addition,the Nigerian Senate is not a recent institution,as stated in the OP,but has been since the first republic.The Nigerian Constitution is not the same as Senegal's,people should be aware of such facts before coming up with such hare-brained ideas

The House of Representatives is the real representative of the people.
God bless the President.

The Nigerian President has no power to disband the Senate, WE the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria are the ones that have such power because in a democrtic society, Sovereginty lies on the People.

Let's transform our words to action,,
Let's #OccupyNass.

IsraeliAIRFORCE:
The President can't disband the National Assembly rather the NASS can send him packing if they so desire.


This is what our constitution supports

GBAM!!!

PMB can only APPEAL to them any attempt to do anything funny will result in his impeachment, this is nigeria not senegal...