Senate President, Bukola Saraki has assured Nigerians that the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) will undertake a review of the allowances of the national lawmakers with a view of cutting it down to reflect the current economic situation in the country. “With the current challenges we are facing as a nation, RMFAC will be reviewing allowances,” he said.
The embattled Senate President made the pledge in a series of short statements released through his Twitter handle @bukolasaraki on Wednesday afternoon with hatch tag ‘#OpenNass’ following growing public angst over the purported N9 billion wardrobe allowance for members of the 8th National Assembly.
“I have just been informed that RMFAC will be publishing details of allowances on their website. I have asked them to do so in a matter of days and we should all follow up to keep them on their toes,” he tweeted.
It was reported on Tuesday that 469 federal lawmakers in both chambers were billed to get a sum of N8.64 billion to furnish their wardrobes, translating to N17.5 million for each of the 360 members of the House of Representatives and N21.5 million for each of the 109 senators.
Senator Saraki disclosed that he had met with chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) who clarified that the actual amount is N506, 600 per senator.
“Chairman of Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission was in my office to clarify wardrobe allowance. Amount is N506, 600 per senator,” he said, adding that: “Fixing of remuneration of political office holders is the sole responsibility of Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission.
Many Nigerians took to the social media to express their repulsion over the questionable pay package for the lawmakers at a time the country is suffering from financial crunch.
By Olisemeka Obeche
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