Controversy trails Akpabio’s ‘recess allowance’ comment

…Foundation commends Senate President for disclosure on live TV
…Timi Frank asks lawmakers to return allowance into FG coffers, demands published account statement
…claims Senators got N35m, principal officers N50m, Reps N30m, principal officers N45m

By Tunde Opalana

Reactions have continue to trail the comment made Monday night by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio over payment of allowance to senators to enjoy their holidays.

While many Nigerians condemned expending of tax payers money in payment of allowances to lawmakers to go on recess, some do not see anything wrong in such payment which was described as a normal statutory payment to members of the National Assembly

The Daily Times recalled that Akpabio while rounding off proceedings of Monday plenary following the successful confirmation of 45 ministerial nominees of President Bola Tinubu, openly informed his colleagues of provision for their holiday.

The Senate President said “In other for all of us to enjoy our holiday, . a token has been sent to our various account by the Clerk to the National Assembly

This was followed by applause by distinguished Senator and having realized the implication of what he had just said on a live transmission, he reframed his statement .

Akpabio, thereafter said “II withdraw that statement. In other to enjoy your holiday, the Senate President has sent prayers to your mail boxes to assist you to go on a safe trip and return”

While condemnation in some quarters greeted the statement, Akpabio, on the hand was commended for such disclosure on live TV.

Foundation for True Freedom and Public Accountability, a leading advocate for transparency and accountability in government, commended Akpabio for what it described as commendable act of transparency.

The Foundation in a statement Thursday by its spokesperson, Architect Bamidele Ebun said Akpabio has sets a positive precedent for public officeholders and fosters trust between elected officials and the citizens they serve.

“In a time when the public demands greater openness and accountability from their representatives, Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s decision to publicly disclose the recess allowance demonstrates a commitment to the principles of good governance. By ensuring that the information is available to the public, he has taken a significant step towards enhancing transparency in the legislative process.

“The decision to make the recess allowance information public is particularly noteworthy given the prevailing challenges of misinformation and distrust facing our society today. By proactively addressing the issue and providing clarity on the allowance, Senate President Godswill Akpabio is reinforcing the importance of transparency and accountability in public service.

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“Transparency is a cornerstone of good governance, and it is essential in fostering public trust and confidence in our democratic institutions. When public officials are forthcoming about their financial arrangements, it instills a sense of responsibility and credibility in the minds of the citizens they represent. By choosing to disclose the recess allowance, Senate President Godswill Akpabio has shown leadership and integrity in his commitment to serving the Nigerian people,” the statement read

The Foundation called on other public officials to follow the example set by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

It said “Transparency should be a guiding principle for all elected representatives, as it strengthens democracy and enables citizens to make informed judgments about the governance of their country.

“We also encourage the Nigerian public to remain engaged and hold their elected representatives accountable for their actions. Through active participation and continued demands for transparency, we can collectively build a more accountable and responsive government.

“Foundation for True Freedom and Public Accountability commends Godswill Akpabio for his commitment to transparency and accountability and encourages him to continue prioritizing these principles throughout his tenure. We look forward to witnessing more initiatives that promote openness and trust between the government and the people.”

However, knocking Akpabio and condemning the lawmakers in both chambers of the National Assembly, a social commentator and public analyst, Timi Frank said whatever money collected for the purpose of holiday or recess should be returned to government coffers.

The former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Thursday, called on Senators and House of Representatives members to urgently return the money which he claimed have been illegal collected from the National Assembly as “enjoyment” and “vacation” allowances.

Frank who made this call in a statement in Abuja, insisted that the primary role of the Legislature is to make laws for the order, security and good governance of the country and not to plunder the till.

He wondered why the lawmakers have not deem it necessary to review the nation’s minimum wage which will benefit the masses in the face of skyrocketing inflation but rather have resorted to helping themselves with funds from taxpayers’ money to catch vacation cruise.

He described the attitude of members of the 10th National Assembly as the worst ever to happen to the country saying they appear to be far removed from the harsh economic realities inflicting excruciating pains on the average Nigerian who elected them into office.

Frank said: “I have been reliably informed that what Akpabio termed token is actually in millions of Naira which belongs to taxpayers.

“According to a Senator from the Northwest geopolitical zone who confided in me, ‘each Senator received N35million while principal officers got N50million each.’

“He equally told me that each House of Representatives member got N30million while their principal officers received N45million each.

“The Senator said he has rejected his own largesse saying: ‘Allah will not forgive me if I collect such an amount for vacation enjoyment while my constituents are suffering hardships. I will spend my vacation with my constituents in the village. I am not traveling to any other place so I don’t need the money.’

“I know Akpabio and his cohorts will rush to deny this but let them do so with evidence by publishing their bank statements for Nigerians to verify for the sake of transparency. I also dare the Clerk to the National Assembly, Magaji Tambawal, to publish the vouchers with which he paid these slush funds into the accounts of legislators.”

Frank who is the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), Ambassador to East Africa and Middle East, however flayed Senator Jimoh Ibrahim (Ondo South) for claiming he only received N2million for vacation enjoyment even as he challenged him to publish his bank statement for Nigerians to confirm whether he told the truth or not.

He reiterated his call on President Bola Tinubu to prevail on the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio to resign his position for illegally and boldly distributing the nation’s commonwealth to legislators on national television and for painting the legislature as the most corrupt arm of government in the country.

Frank called on Nigerians to rise up and demand Akpabio’s resignation should the President or Akpabio’s colleagues fail to rise up to the occasion.

He lamented that while the Federal Government has been complaining of lean financial resources and begging Nigerians to be “patient” and “wait” for things to improve, Akpabio could afford to dole out money for enjoyment without any thought about workers who have been crying that their minimum wage should be increased.

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“They cannot pay common living wage to Nigerian workers but Akpabio’s Freudian slip is a wake up call for Nigerians to urgently mobilize and take back their country, if the Nigeria Labour Congress fails to take action to protect and defend now impoverished Nigerian workers.

He called on the leadership of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and other affiliate unions to rise up and genuinely fight for a living wage for Nigerian workers.

“If Akpabio can fight for senators and Members of the House of Representatives to get so much for enjoyment, we expect the organized labour leadership to fight for improved salaries, wages and welfare packages for Nigerian workers devoid of the types of compromise associated with past workers agitations,” he said.

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