Amid controversy trailing the allocation of N70billion to National Assembly from the N819.5billion amended 2022 supplementary budget, the spokesman of the Senate, Yemi Adaramodu, made further clarifications to our Senate Correspondent, TAIYE ODEWALE reports
The N70billion allocation
The much reported N70billion allocation, earmarked to the National Assembly (NASS) to support the working condition of the 469 federal lawmakers is one out of the several line items appropriations, made from the N819.5billion 2022 supplementary budget.
The N819.5billion 2022 Supplementary Appropriation bill was considered and passed by the 9th National Assembly in December last year and assented to by former President Muhammadu Buhari but not implemented till he left office in May this year.
Bulk of the allocations cum appropriations made in the budget, was for road repairs across the six geo – political zones of the country damaged by severe flooding experienced in the fiscal year.
Amended version of the supplementary budget
However, having spent half of the following year (2023) and the issue of damaged control measures on severe flooding of 2022, being addressed by allocations and appropriations made to that effect in the 2023 budget, the new federal government administration led by President Bola Tinubu, decided to vire bulk of the 2022 supplementary budget the amendment to palliatives provisions, in cushioning the effects of fuel subsidy removal.
President Tinubu in the amended version of the N819.5billion 2022 supplementary budget, approved by both chambers of the National Assembly last week, earmarked N500billion for palliatives and other capital expenditure to cushion the effect of recent subsidy removal policy.
N185,236,937,815billion to Ministry of Works and Housing to alleviate the impact of the severe flooding experienced in the country in 2022 on road infrastructure across the 6 geopolitical zones.
N19,200,000,000billion to Federal Ministry of Agriculture to ameliorate the massive destruction to farmlands across the country during the severe flooding experienced last year.
N35 billion to National Judicial Council (NJC) and N10 billion to Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), for critical projects execution while N70 billion is for the National Assembly to support the working conditions of new members.
Clarifications on appropriations made in the amended 2022 Supplementary Budget
Immediately after the passage of the ammended N819.5billion 2022 supplementary budget by the Senate on Thursday last week, Senator Yemi Adaramodu in his capacity as Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, briefed journalists covering the senate.
At the briefing, Adaramodu clarified that apart from the N500billion extracted from the N819.5 billion supplementary budget for palliatives provisions to cushion effects of fuel subsidy withdrawal, other items on allocations were retained as earlier passed by the 9th National Assembly.
He stated further in response to questions asked, that the N70billion earmarked for improved working conditions of the 469 federal lawmakers, would be handled by the bureaucracy of the National Assembly for provision of required office equipment and working tools for support staff.
Exclusive clarification
In reaction to report later made by one of the National dailies on Friday that the N70billion was padded by the federal lawmakers for their private pockets and that it was taken from the N500billion meant for palliatives, Senator Adaramodu explained to the Blueprint in his office, that the N70billion was not in anyway padded by the federal lawmakers.
“The report on alleged padding was wrong and misleading, just as the claim that the N70billion was part of the N500billion meant for palliatives, was wrong.
“The N70billion earmarked for the National Assembly to improve the working condition of the 469 federal lawmakers , stands on its own like other items appropriated for, in the N819.5billion amended 2022 supplementary budget.
“The N70billion is not money to be shared by the 469 federal lawmakers but to be used by the National Assembly bureaucracy to provide essential working materials and office equipments for them and support staff.
“For instance, in hitting the ground running after inauguration on the 13th of June 2023 and office allocation this month, most of the lawmakers, furnished their offices by themselves and provided other essentials.
“Personally, in my own office here, all the furniture, televisions, refrigerator, photocopier and even rugs, were bought by me to fully settle down for legislative work my constituents sent me here to do.
“No any Senator likewise Honourable member of the House of Representatives, met already furnished or well equipped office to work.
“In not stopping the workings of governance, every lawmaker, has to use his or her personal money to put office in shape pending the time, the National Assembly bureaucracy , would make further provisions”, he said.
To further disabuse the minds of Nigerians on the alleged N70billion padding, Senator Adaramodu on Sunday, issued a rebuttal.
The rebuttal titled: “Senate Refutes Alleged Padding of Supplementary Budget” reads: “After the passage of the Supplementary Budget to accommodate funding for federal government’ Palliative for the Nigerian public, among other urgent national demands, the socio-political space has been inundated with spurious, inaccurate and irreverent misinterpretations.
“Suffice to say that the passage is part of the absolute constitutional duty of the Senate. We would therefore, not wish to join issues with the mischief and misrepresentation that a portion of the just passed Amendment Act that appropriated 70b Naira was a ‘gift’ to the legislators.
“A visit to the suites, offices and the general structures of the National Assembly complex would reveal a yawning and the need for exigent attention.
“Many Senators had to bring their chairs, tables and electronics and in many cases, do sundry repairs.
“The so much debated allocation will not be paid to any legislator. This will be managed by the National Assembly bureaucracy. It’s pertinent to also note that the National Assembly complex does not house only the legislators. There are thousands of workers and service providers, whose working environment need a face-lift, and/with necessary tools.
“Since the Assembly Complex is not owned by legislators who are merely political birds of passage, such allocation cannot be termed by anyone as a palliative to the legislators.
“The alleged padding of the palliatve Budget by the National Assembly only exists in the minds of those who are all out to discredit the 10th Assembly. There is nothing like padding as being alleged in some misinformed media outfits.
“We wish to urge fellow compatriots to see the National Assembly as partners in the progress of Nigeria. The National Assembly is the soul of democracy and the 10th Senate shall join hands with other arms of government and our forward looking Nigerians to sing new songs of progress, development, safety and all round economic recovery and growth”.
Like other Senates before it and by extension, National Assembly, the 10th Senate would surely have other image affecting controversies to contend with in months and years to come.
