Bullets Hit Akpabio After Comment On Senators’ ‘Holiday Enjoyment’ Allowance

Bullets Hit Akpabio After Comment On Senators’ ‘Holiday Enjoyment’ Allowance

The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has faced severe criticism after inadvertently revealing that senators’ holiday allowances had been deposited into their bank accounts…CONTINUE READING

On Monday, prior to the Senate’s adjournment for the annual recess, Akpabio informed his colleagues that funds had been transferred to them for their holiday enjoyment.

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Unfortunately, he seemed to forget that his remarks were being broadcast live. Although he made this statement before adjourning until September 26, the video quickly spread across social media platforms the following day.

The Senate President stated, “To ensure that we all have a pleasant holiday, a small sum has been sent to our individual accounts by the National Assembly Clerk.”

Upon realizing that his statement was being broadcast live, he hastily withdrew his words, saying, “I retract that statement. In order to contribute to your holiday experience, the Senate President has sent blessings to your email addresses to assist you in embarking on a safe journey and returning.”

Although the exact amount transferred to the lawmakers remains unclear due to the secrecy surrounding their salaries and allowances, the “holiday bonus” remark came shortly after the allocation of 70 billion Naira (N70bn) to the legislators to enhance their “working conditions” within the revised 2022 supplementary appropriation act.

Critics have described the lawmakers’ actions as insensitive, especially given the prevailing economic hardships faced by the majority of Nigerians, exacerbated by the elimination of fuel subsidies.

For instance, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project issued a strong statement urging Senate President Godswill Akpabio and House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas to abandon plans to spend 40 billion Naira (N40bn) on acquiring luxury vehicles for members and officials and 70 billion Naira (N70bn) as “palliatives” for new members.

Human rights activist and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, denounced the move as heartless and a violation of the country’s constitution.

Against this backdrop, the senators’ “holiday enjoyment allowance” has sparked widespread condemnation from Nigerians who believe that while they are asked to make sacrifices, their leaders continue to indulge in extravagance amid a nationwide struggle prompted by soaring petrol prices.

Various civil society organizations and activists have criticized the development, emphasizing the insensitivity of the political leaders to the plight of the citizens. Many have called for more responsible and empathetic governance, and some have even demanded the resignation of Senate President Godswill Akpabio due to what they consider a mockery of democracy and a disregard for the people’s welfare.