Obasanjo
‘Senators make N15M monthly, Reps 10M,’ Ex-president says
Obasanjo also said that allegations of budget padding raised by lawmaker, Abdulmumin Jibrin should be investigated.
Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo has described the National Assembly as a den of corruption.
Obasanjo also said that allegations of budget padding raised by lawmaker, Abdulmumin Jibrin should be investigated.
The
former president made the comment on Wednesday, November 24, while
speaking at the first Akintola Williams Annual Lecture in Lagos.
“Budget
padding must not go unpunished. It is a reality, which is a regular and
systemic practice. Nobody should pull the wool over the eyes of
Nigerians,” Obasanjo said.
“Ganging
up to intimidate and threaten the life of a whistle blower is
deplorable and undemocratic. What of the so-called constituency projects
which is a veritable source of corruption?
“These
constituency projects are spread over the budget for members of the
National Assembly for which they are the initiators and the contractors
directly or by proxy and money would be fully drawn with the project
only partially executed or not executed at all.
“The
National Assembly cabal of today is worse than any cabal that anybody
may find anywhere in our national governance system at any time.
“Members
of the National Assembly pay themselves allowances for staff and
offices they do not have or maintain. Once you are a member, you are
co-opted and your mouth is stuffed with rot and corruption that you
cannot opt out as you go home with not less than N15 million a month for
a senator and N10 million a month for a member of the House of
Representatives.
“The National
Assembly is a den of corruption by a gang of unarmed robbers. Like the
judiciary, the National Assembly cannot clean itself. Look at how the
recurrent budget of the National Assembly with the so-called
constituency projects has ballooned since the inception of this
democratic dispensation.
“What
were their budgets in the 2000, 2005, 2010 and 2015? The revelation was
both alarming and scandalous. Once, when I was president, I asked
outside auditors, both normal and forensic, to audit the account of the
National Assembly, they frustrated it on the basis of separation of
powers.
“They claimed they had
oversight responsibility for their corruption and misdemeanour and
nothing could be done. It is like asking a thief to watch over himself.
There must be full disclosure of all relevant fiscal information in a
timely and systematic manner at all levels.
“It
needs to be purged. With appropriate measures, the budget of the
National Assembly can be brought down to less than 50 per cent of what
it is today. God will help Nigeria, but we must begin by helping
ourselves,” he added.
Obasanjo also said that the National Assembly stinks to high heavens.
The
former president had earlier attacked the country’s senators for buying
469 vehicles despite the economic crisis in the country.
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