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AT a closed door meeting with the leadership of the House of Representatives, members of the House, on Wednesday, reportedly demanded for increase in their quarterly allowance to N45 million, Nigerian Tribune can report.
Findings revealed that each member of the House currently enjoys N27 million per quarter as allowances.
Nigerian Tribune gathered that members of the House from both ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and opposition parties were in unison on the clamour for increase in the quarterly allowance.
It was also learnt that members, at the closed door meeting, held at hearing room 028 at the House of Representatives building, queried the leadership of the House on its inability to accommodate their “interest” in the 2014 budget estimates still awaiting the passage of the House.
The meeting, held before the Wednesday’s plenary session, according to the Nigerian Tribune, dwelt on members’ welfare.
According to a member who pleaded anonymity, “members of the House do not get to see the details of the National Assembly N150 billion yearly budget estimate.”
A source in the know confided in the Nigerian Tribune that members were particularly angry over the secrecy that surrounded the National Assembly yearly N150 billion budget.
Clamour for increase in the quarterly allowance to N45 million, the Nigerian Tribune learnt, was spearheaded by a female lawmaker from the South-South, who reportedly jumped on the table to marshal her points on the need for increase in the lawmakers’ quarterly allowance.
After making her presentation, it was learnt that members present at the meeting clapped in support of her submission.
On the increase in the quarterly allowance, a member of the House told the Nigerian Tribune that the National Assembly budget, if well utilised, would accommodate the increase, saying that “the money is there, what are they doing with the money?”
A member also told the Nigerian Tribune in confidence that “2014 budget estimates, transparency and accountability were the main issues discussed at the closed door meeting.”
Nigerian Tribune also learnt that different meetings were scheduled by the leadership of the House to address issues raised by members, so as to have smooth passage of the budget today.
Most members, it was gathered, had stood their grounds that if their interests were not accommodated, they would not pass the budget.
It was also learnt that members had shown their grievances on the budget when it was first listed on the order paper on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, chairman, House Committee on Appropriation, Honourable John Owan-Enoh, presented its committee’s report on 2014 budget estimate to the House for consideration.
The Speaker, Honourable Aminu Tambuwal, however, hinted that the N4.642 trillion budget estimates would be passed today.
Nigerian Tribune, however, learnt that the House would be embarking on Easter break today.
Source: Tribune
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