News
9th NASS Senators, Reps, aides to get N30.2bn severance package
9th NASS Senators, Reps, aides to get N30.2bn severance package
Senators and members of the House of Representatives will be sharing a total of N30.2 billion as severance allowance when the 9th National Assembly winds down next month, according to an investigation conducted by The Nation.
Also to benefit from the said sum are aides of the federal lawmakers.
Severance package or gratuity is money paid to lawmakers and their aides at the end of their four-year tenure.
The amount in question is already captured in the 2023 Appropriation Act passed by the National Assembly and assented to by President Muhammadu Buhari.
It represents 12.6 per cent of the N238.78 billion allocated to the National Assembly in the N21.8 trillion 2023 Appropriation Act.
The severance package is N7 billion higher than the N23.678 billion approved for the Eighth Assembly.
Of the N30.2 billion, Senate President Ahmad Lawan is expected to receive about N7.45 million while the Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, will receive N6.93 million.
Each of the remaining 107 Senators will go home with N6.08 million.
READ ALSO:
- I will sack bad workers, demolish bad structures till my 11th hour in office – El-Rufai
- Police arrest pregnant woman for assaulting maid
- Clark condemns re-appointment of sacked IGP, Suleiman Abba as Chairman of PTF
House of Representatives Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, is entitled to N7.43 million while Deputy Speaker Ahmed Idris Wase’s share is N6.86 million.
Each of the other 358 Reps will get N5.96 million.
The severance package of each of the 6,375 legislative aides depends on their salary grade.
Besides the money, the 469 lawmakers (including those re-elected) and some of their aides will go home with their official vehicles worth N5.5 billion.
This amount was part of the N125 billion budgetary allocation to the National Assembly in 2019.
They are also entitled to go home with some of their office equipment and consumables, including refrigerators, laptops and personal computers, among other entitlements.
Investigation showed that some of the lawmakers who are not returning and their aides are already clearing their offices of personal belongings, while those who won reelection into the 10th Assembly have also arranged their property in readiness for movement to new offices soon to be allocated to them by the National Assembly management based on ranking.
A visit to some of the lawmakers’ offices both at the Senate and House of Representatives revealed that their aides were busy packing their belongings into bags while others were being assisted by some contract staff rendering ancillary services in the National Assembly to move their belongings into waiting vans.
It was gathered that many of the lawmakers started moving their personal effects out of the National Assembly immediately after the last party primary elections in May 2022 when they failed to secure their parties’ tickets, while others started moving theirs after the last general election.
Less than one third of the legislators in the 9th Assembly are returning to the parliament.
The legislative aides fall into two categories.
In one group are five Statutory Legislative Aides employed by the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) for each of the 465 lawmakers numbering 2,325.
The second category comprises about 4,000 Political and Legislative Aides employed by the National Assembly management for the Presiding Officers.
9th NASS Senators, Reps, aides to get N30.2bn severance package
News
Tinubu jets out to France on three-day visit
Tinubu jets out to France on three-day visit
President Bola Tinubu will travel to France today (Wednesday) for a three-day state visit at the instance of the French president.
A statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed this.
It said, “The Nigerian leader’s three-day visit, which will focus on strengthening political, economic, and cultural relations and establishing more opportunities for partnership, particularly in agriculture, security, education, health, youth engagement and employment, innovation, and energy transition, promises significant benefits for Nigeria.”
Onanuga said Tinubu and Macron would harmonise positions on stimulating more interest in exchange programmes that focus on skill development for youths and improving their competencies in automation, entrepreneurship, innovation, and leadership.
“Both leaders will participate in political and diplomatic meetings highlighting shared values on finance, solid minerals, trade and investments, and communication,” he added.
“They will also witness a session by the France-Nigeria Business Council, which oversees private sector participation in economic development.”
The presidential adviser stated that the Nigerian first lady and her French counterpart would discuss solutions for empowering women, children, and the most vulnerable through the Renewed Hope initiative.
News
Yahaya Bello reports to EFCC office with lawyers
Yahaya Bello reports to EFCC office with lawyers
A former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, on Tuesday visited the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to honour another invitation extended to him over alleged misappropriation of funds.
Bello went to the anti-graft office with his lawyers in the morning.
The ex-Kogi governor reportedly drove himself to the EFCC’s office in a black Toyota Hilux van with some lawyers.
He was said to have been taken by some operatives of the agency and are currently being grilled.
This is coming after the Supreme Court judgment which dismissed a suit brought by some state governments challenging the constitutionality of the agency.
The EFCC at the last hearing on November 14, sought the adjournment till November 27 in the fresh case it instituted against Bello.
It stated that the 30-day window was still running for the summons earlier issued.
News
Just in: Ebonyi governor suspends two commissioners, Perm Sec for misconduct
Just in: Ebonyi governor suspends two commissioners, Perm Sec for misconduct
Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru has announced the immediate suspension of two commissioners with a permanent secretary among others for gross misconduct.
Those suspended are the Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development Francis Ori, and the Commissioner for Health, Moses Ekuma, with the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health.
The suspension followed an incident on Saturday night, when the governor reportedly visited the Ministry of Health’s premises and was said to have found six officials diverting government materials.
Others suspended for three months are the Executive Secretaries of the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency and the Ebonyi State Health Insurance Agency
The suspension order was announced by the state Commissioner for Information, Jude Okpor, who cited alleged misconduct and dereliction of duties as the reasons for the disciplinary actions.
Okpor made the disclosure on Tuesday during a press briefing on the outcomes of the State Executive Council meeting held on Monday at the New Government House in Abakaliki, the state capital.
“Following cases of gross misconduct and dereliction of duties by some government officials and matters related thereto, the Chairman of Council directed the indefinite suspension of the Honourable Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development and three months suspension of the Honourable Commissioner for Health, respectively
“In view of the development, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Primary Health was directed to take charge of the ministry in the absence of the suspended commissioner.
Governor Nwifuru directed the suspended government officials to hand over all government properties in their possession including vehicles to the Secretary to the State Government.
-
metro1 day agoBREAKING: Port Harcourt refinery begins operation
-
Business3 days agoJust in: Dangote refinery reduces petrol price for marketers
-
metro2 days ago40-foot container falls on car in Lagos
-
Politics2 days agoLagos 2027: Seyi Tinubu campaign team releases his life documentary
-
Education19 hours agoUS University opens 2025 scholarships for international students
-
International2 days agoTrump to sack 15,000 transgender officers from U.S. military: Report
-
Entertainment2 days agoPolygamy best form of marriage for Africa – Okey Bakassi
-
Sports20 hours agoFrench football star, Paul Pogba’s blackmail trial begin in Paris