The Nigerian Senate has firmly denied allegations made by former President Olusegun Obasanjo that federal lawmakers receive monetary patronage from the presidency.
Obasanjo had asserted that members of the National Assembly determine their own salaries and benefit from special financial packages from the executive.
The former president made these remarks on Friday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, while hosting a group of House of Representatives members.
In response, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Adaramodu (APC, Ekiti South), issued a statement on Sunday refuting Obasanjo’s claims as false.
Senator Adaramodu emphasised that the 10th Senate is committed to being a responsible and responsive legislative body and would not engage in any actions that could harm the nation’s economy or hinder its growth.
The statement clarified that the Senate only receives salaries as allocated by the Revenue Mobilisation Fiscal Allocation Commission, in accordance with constitutional provisions. Senator Adaramodu challenged anyone with evidence to the contrary to present it, insisting that neither the Senators nor the National Assembly have the authority to set their own salaries.
Describing Obasanjo’s claims as “uncharitable and satanic,” the senator accused the former president of attempting to undermine the legislature. He also stressed that no senator has received any monetary patronage from the presidency.
Addressing the issue of constituency projects, Senator Adaramodu explained that these projects are suggested and nominated by legislators, following practices in other democracies worldwide.
The executive arm of government is responsible for awarding contracts to qualified contractors and overseeing the implementation of these projects through its various ministries and agencies.
He added that the funding for constituency projects varies based on the number of constituencies in each state, and is intended to ensure that every region in Nigeria benefits from federal initiatives.
