Nigerian Senate has denied allegations that it determined its own salaries and allowances or received special fiscal packages from the Presidency.
The upper legislative chamber got stoked in fresh controversies after a visit to former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
In a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja, the Senate Spokesman, Yemi Adaramodu, said, the 10th Senate has also not received any financial patronage from the presidency.
He explained that constituency projects which have always been a subject of public discourse are merely suggested and nominated by Senators, following practices common in other democracies worldwide.
According to him, salaries and allowances paid to Senators have always been allocated to them by the Revenue Mobilisation Fiscal Allocation Commission, in strict accordance with constitutional provisions and it has been in the public domain.
The statement challenged any Nigerian who has any contrary evidence to come forward, insisting that it was untrue, the allegation that Senators determine their own salaries.
“The Executive arm of government, through its various Ministries and agencies, is responsible for awarding contracts for the constituency projects. The funds allocated for these projects vary depending on the number of constituencies in each state and the intention is to ensure that every region of Nigeria benefits from federal resources,” he said.
The statement assured the public that the 10th Assembly remains a responsible and responsive chamber.
It also reaffirmed its commitment to upholding the economy and growth of Nigeria, insisting that it only receives what is constitutionally allocated to it and would never seek additional perks from other branches of government.
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