The Senate Chief Whip, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, has confirmed that each of the Senators received N2 Million as annual vacation allowance and hinted that the Senate is planning to take drastic action against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio if he continues making unguarded statements and acting as if senators are kids.
Senator Ndume stated this against the backdrop of Akpabio’s disclosure that money had been wired to the bank accounts of the lawmakers in order to enjoy their annual vacation.
The development, which has caused a backlash with some Nigerians berating the Senators for feeding fat on the nation’s treasury, had forced some lawmakers to admit that only N2million was paid to them as leave allowance and not a bogus amount as being bandied around.
Senator Ndume, who spoke to the BBC Hausa Service, blamed Akpabio’s public disclosure for the attack on Senators, saying something would be done about the Senate President’s unguarded utterances if he does not desist.
The Borno South Senator emphasized that the N2million allowance paid to each Senator was not out of the ordinary, likening the largesse to the customary annual leave bonus or allowance entitled to employees in an establishment.
“It’s common knowledge that if any employee is going on leave, he/she is entitled to a leave grant. That was the money we received, and it is nothing unusual or special.
“All Senators received N2 million, and I am making this comment with a heavy heart, because he [Akpabio] is the cause of this controversy.
“He created an impression as if we were given some special or huge amounts of money. What’s the big deal if I receive N2 million allowance in my capacity as a Senator?
“He made a very wrong statement, and I warned him immediately that his comments were unbecoming of an elder.
“In fact, we are even planning to take drastic action against him if he continues making unguarded statements and acting as if we are kids,” The Senator said.