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  • Each Senator Earns ₦1m Per Month, Says Revenue Commission

    Each Senator Earns ₦1m Per Month, Says Revenue Commission

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    The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) says each of the 109 senators occupying legislative seats in the red chamber earns ₦1,063,860 salary and allowances per month.

    The commission gave the breakdown of the salary and allowances of each senator as: Basic Salary – ₦168,866:70; Motor Vehicle Fuelling and Maintenance Allowance – ₦126,650:00; Personal Assistant – ₦42,216:66; Domestic Staff -₦126,650:00; Entertainment – ₦50,660:00; Utilities – ₦50,660:00; Newspapers/Periodicals – ₦25,330:00; Wardrobe – ₦42,216,66:00; House Maintenance – ₦8,443.33:00 and Constituency Allowance – ₦422,166:66; respectively.

    RMAFC chair M. B. Shehu, in a statement on Tuesday, made the clarification “in view of the recent statement made by Mr. Shehu Sani, a former Senator of the Federal Republic who was reported to have disclosed to the public that each Senator collects monthly running cost of ₦13.5 M in addition to the monthly ₦750, 000.00 prescribed by the Commission”

    Shehu said RMAFC does not have the constitutional powers to enforce compliance with the proper implementation of the remuneration package of lawmakers. “This lacuna is, however, being addressed by the National Assembly,” he said.

    The RMAFC chief said some allowances are regular while others are non-regular. “Regular allowances are paid regularly with basic salary while non-regular allowances are paid as when due.

    “For instance, Furniture allowance (₦6,079,200:00) and Severance Gratuity (₦6,079,200:00) are paid once in every tenure and Vehicle allowance (₦8,105,600:00) which is optional is a loan which the beneficiary has to pay before leaving office,” he added.

    Shehu said that aside from the president, vice president, senate president, and speaker of the House of Representatives, all public and legislative officers are no longer provided with housing, as was the case in the past.

    On Sunday, the Senate tackled former President Olusegun Obasanjo over his comment that lawmakers in both chambers of the National Assembly (NASS) fix their salaries.

    Senate spokesman Yemi Adaramodu challenged anyone with credible evidence to present contrary facts, describing any suggestion that the National Assembly fixes its salaries as “uncharitable and satanic.”

    Adaramodu said the red chamber only receives the salary allocated to it by the RMAFC in line with the constitution.

    On Friday, Obasanjo, Nigeria’s democratically elected President from May 1999 to May 2007, said it was “immoral” for federal lawmakers to determine their salaries and allowances. Instead, he said, the RMAFC should be saddled with this responsibility.

  • Atiku, Amaechi, Obi, Kwankwaso, Osinbajo, El-rufai Called To Form New Party To Rescue Nigeria

    Atiku, Amaechi, Obi, Kwankwaso, Osinbajo, El-rufai Called To Form New Party To Rescue Nigeria

    APC, PDP, LP, NNPP Cannot Serve As Platforms To Rescue Nigeria
    Tinubu, State Governors Candidates For Immediate Impeachment
    Dr. Salihu Lukman, the former National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the North-West, has urged Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Rotimi Ameachi, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, and Mallam Nasir El-rufai to form a new party immediately to save Nigeria.

    Lukman also chastised the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), and New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) for the country’s current situation.

    He stated that these major political parties cannot serve as platforms to rescue Nigeria from its current unfortunate self-inflicted downward spiral, which is causing widespread poverty and starvation.

    The former National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the North-West region also stated that the federal government has rendered all registered political parties ineffective.

    Lukman, in a statement titled “What Next,” issued following the #EndBadGovernance protest, urged opposition leaders such as Alh. Atiku Abubakar, Mr. Peter Obi, and Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to step forward and provide the necessary leadership to reform democracy and ensure the emergence of a functional political party capable of rescuing Nigeria.

    In addition to opposition leaders, Lukman urged other APC political leaders, including Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Chief Rotimi Amaechi, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Sen. Ibukunle Amosun, Mal. Nasir El-Rufai, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, and many others, who have been pushed out of the party, to join forces with opposition leaders to save the country and return Nigeria to the path of democratic development.

    He stated that if the country’s democratic structures, such as political parties and the National Assembly, are functional, President Asiwaju Tinubu and many state governors should face immediate impeachment.

    Speaking about the recently concluded protest, Lukman stated that the #EndBadGovernance protest fell short of public expectations due to the almost complete absence of initiatives at all levels to identify the protest organisers and engage them with the goal of attempting to end the protest. He also warned that every Nigerian should be concerned if the threat to resume October 1 materialised.

    “As of now, there is information indicating that the organisers have set October 1 as the date for the protests to resume. Every Nigerian should be concerned about this situation. With governments at all levels failing to engage the organisers and effectively underestimating the organisers’ ability to mobilise for the protests, ordinary Nigerians are left at the mercy of angry Nigerians. The truth is that almost every ordinary citizen has the potential to join such an angry group simply because the country’s living conditions are harsh. Let no one be misled; the situation affects almost every living soul in Nigeria on an unprecedented scale that has never been seen before.

    “Without a doubt, the withdrawal of petroleum product subsidies and the floating of the Naira’s exchange rate against other international currencies have triggered our current situation.” In an import-dependent economy, the two policies are likely to cause inflationary pressure. Unfortunately, the government of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has yet to produce a clear, definitive policy response to the situation,” he said.

    The former APC National Vice Chairman for the North-West stated, “A situation in which the government resorts to a cheap campaign of blackmail with the argument that the opposition is sponsoring the protests should simply be ignored.”

    “Nigerians must face the challenge of rebuilding Nigeria’s democratic institutions. All Nigerians committed to the country’s democratic development must band together with young Nigerians who are legitimately angry about the harsh realities that citizens face.

    “The goal must be to channel Nigerians’ rage into the formation of an identified political party and begin working towards the eventual defeat of President Asiwaju Tinubu and political leaders responsible for the current travails causing widespread hunger and starvation in the country by 2027.

    “As it stands, President Asiwaju Tinubu’s administration appears to be on a roller coaster of increased spending in the midst of widespread hunger and poverty in the country, which contributes to the country’s extremely volatile situation. Every committed democrat in the country must recognise this challenge and seek to mobilise Nigerians to channel their rage in a creative and positive direction towards the reformation of the country’s democratic structures.

    “Given that the majority of political leaders are already dissatisfied, and given how the government has rendered nearly all registered political parties comatose, the process of uniting dissatisfied political leaders from all parties must begin immediately.

    “This is the point at which opposition leaders like Alh. Atiku Abubakar, Mr. Peter Obi, and Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso should step forward to provide the necessary leadership to reform our democracy and ensure the emergence of a functional political party capable of rescuing Nigeria.

    “In addition to opposition leaders, other APC political leaders who have been forced to leave the party should band together to save the country and return Nigeria to the path of democratic development.

    “These leaders include Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Chief Rotimi Amaechi, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Sen. Ibukunle Amosun, Mal. Nasir El-Rufai, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, and others. While acknowledging that initiatives in this direction are already underway, the country’s rising anger must be harnessed and directed to strengthen the emergence of a true functional political party distinct from the APC, PDP, LP, and NNPP. As it stands, these parties cannot serve as platforms to rescue Nigeria from its current unfortunate self-inflicted downward spiral, which is resulting in mass poverty and starvation.

  • The Federal Government has started selling 50kg bags of rice for N40,000 to calm down protesters.

    The Federal Government has started selling 50kg bags of rice for N40,000 to calm down protesters.

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    On Monday, July 29, the federal government announced the establishment of centers nationwide where 50kg bags of rice are available for N40,000 each.

    Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made this statement during a briefing on the outcomes of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting led by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

    Idris explained that this initiative is part of the Tinubu administration’s broader efforts to address the high cost of living and make the planned nationwide protest unnecessary.

    He noted that President Tinubu is effectively advocating for the people through various interventions, addressing the concerns that led to the protest plans.

    The minister emphasized that the FEC believes most of the protesters’ demands are already being addressed by the government, and therefore, the protest is no longer needed.

    Idris added, “The FEC’s stance is that the majority of the issues raised by the protesters are being actively addressed by the federal government. This administration is attentive to the concerns of its citizens, and the President has listened to the voices of those planning the protest. Consequently, there is no longer a need for the protest.”

    “Most of the issues raised by the protesters are already being addressed or are in the process of being addressed by the government. As we’ve repeatedly stated, this administration is responsive to public concerns.

    “The President has taken into account the voices of those planning the protest, and his message is that the protest is no longer necessary.

    “In fact, the President is already taking action on their behalf by implementing the very measures they seek from the government.

    “For example, the government is working to make food more accessible. At the last Council meeting, we announced that 20 trucks had been allocated to state governors for distribution to those most in need, particularly the poorest in society.

    “But the government hasn’t stopped there. We are also selling rice at about half its cost. Currently, 50kg bags of rice are available at various centers across all states for N40,000.

    “Initially, 10 trucks have been deployed to each state, and this is just the beginning.

    “I understand some might feel this is insufficient. The government acknowledges that these supplies may not be enough, but they represent crucial first steps, with more interventions planned in the interim.

    “Additionally, these measures are temporary as substantial investments are being made in the agricultural sector.

    “The rainy season has arrived, and we anticipate a decrease in food prices as investments are made not only in traditional agriculture but also in irrigation projects across various states.

    “We expect that as we progress, the costs of food and other commodities will indeed fall.

    “These measures are part of the government’s efforts, and both the President and the Federal Executive Council believe that some of the concerns prompting the protests are already being addressed.

    “For instance, the federal government has recently started distributing student loans, with provisions for over 2 million students. As of last week, around 110,000 applications had been received, with more expected.

    “There is ample provision for all qualified students who meet the conditions for these loans.

    “The President’s goal is to ensure that no student, or young person admitted to any of our tertiary institutions, is excluded due to financial constraints from their parents or guardians.

    “Additionally, efforts are underway to create employment opportunities for around 3 million young people through the MTT program.

    “Furthermore, a reduction in general costs is anticipated once the CNG initiative by the federal government is fully implemented.”

    Some of these buses have already been imported, and conversion kits are now available. Conversion centers are starting to become operational.

    The delays are due to the fact that these items aren’t readily available off the shelf.

    First, procurement processes must be followed, and orders must be placed. As we shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy, it’s anticipated that transportation costs will decrease by over 60%.

    If you own a car, you’ll likely spend about 60% less on transportation, and that savings will return to your pocket. Initially, the focus will be on commercial buses for mass transit, aiming to reduce fares for workers and commuters.

    In light of these efforts and the broader government initiatives, the government urges those planning protests to reconsider. While peaceful protests are a democratic right, the government is committed to ensuring that such rights do not infringe upon others’.

    The government asks you to delay your protest, as there is a risk it might be hijacked and turn violent, which would not benefit Nigeria. We understand that people are claiming there is no intention for violence, but history has shown us that there is a risk this protest could be hijacked and potentially turn violent.