Just In : Senator Ningi Reveals Amount Sent To Senators As Recess Token
Senator Abdul Ningi has revealed that some lawmakers have received a recess allowance of N2 million, even though he personally has not received his own.
His statement follows a recent video clip in which Senate President Godswill Akpabio mentioned that a “token” had been deposited into the accounts of Senators to facilitate their holiday during the recess period.
Akpabio’s comment, which he later retracted, sparked online debates. In response to this, Senator Ningi from the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) confirmed that certain lawmakers had indeed received an allowance, as previously indicated.
While speaking on Channels Television’s “Politics Today” show, Senator Ningi expressed his surprise at Akpabio’s public announcement of the allowance, deeming it unprecedented.
“Instances like this are typically not broadcasted in the manner he did,” the lawmaker noted.
He criticized the Senate President’s communication and stated that it was a significant embarrassment to both Akpabio personally and to the National Assembly as an institution.
Ningi believed that the Senate President should have provided more details about the purpose of the allowances, their origin, and whether they formed part of the regular remuneration.
Ningi acknowledged that many people, including himself, found the situation challenging to accept. He questioned the purpose of the N2 million allowance for a holiday and expressed his difficulty in comprehending its intent.
He pointed out that upon their return to work, the senators should be informed about the purpose of the allowance since recess allowances are not part of their usual compensation
