The Senate Chief Whip, Ali Ndume, has blamed Senate President Godswill Akpabio for the ongoing controversy surrounding the holiday allowance of senators.
Truetells Nigeria recalls that last week Monday, before the senate went on recess, the president of the senate said the Senate clerk sent a token to the lawmakers to enable them to “enjoy their holidays.”
A comment he later withdrew to say he was sending prayers into the mail boxes of all senators for the holiday.
The statement has recently aroused a lot of controversy, as several Nigerians have blamed lawmakers for ignoring the situation of Nigerians.
However, reacting to Akpabio”s actions, Ndume said all senators received N2 million each, and it is part of their statutory entitlement and nothing special.
The Senate senate whip blamed Akoabio for his comment while speaking on BBC Hausa service. Ndume said Akpabio’s comments were unbecoming of a leader.
He said: “It’s common knowledge that if any employee is going on leave, they are entitled to a leave grant. That was the money we received, and it is nothing unusual or special.
“All senators received N2 million. And I am making this comment with a heavy heart because he (Akpabio) is the cause of this controversy.
“He created an impression as if we were given some special or huge amounts of money. What’s the big deal if I receive N2 million allowance in my capacity as a senator? He made a very wrong statement, and I warned him immediately that his comments were unbecoming of an elder.
“In fact, we are even planning to take drastic action against him if he continues making unguarded statements and acting as if we are kids.”