Senate Members reportedly at War over Delayed Allowance

According to Sun, members of the senate have declared war on both the Senate President Bukola Saraki and his vice, Ike Ekweremadu, over the continuous delay in the payment of their allowances.

Some senators who reportedly spoke to Sun said they were paid just their “paltry” salaries before the August Sallah break, while their “juicy” allowances were withheld.

Despite the fact that money has been lodged into a new generation bank account since August 30, they are still yet to be paid their salaries.

The last minute postponement of the resumption of the plenary session was as a result of this, Sun reports, the leaders of the Senate meaning to placate the senators before they all meet.

3 lawmakers reportedly told Sun that they had planned on Tuesday to confront their leadership, before news of the postponement reached them.

A senator from the South-South region reportedly said the non-payment of allowances had become a repeated practice, and they were ready to challenge the Senate President.

He said some of the senators who acquired loans to fund their 2015 campaigns are on the verge of losing their properties for non-payment.

He added that over 70% of senators could not return to their constituencies during the break, as a result of the non-payment of their allowances.

Abdullahi Sabi, spokesman of the Senate,could not be reached for comments.

His aide, who responded, said he was currently indisposed.

Yusuf Olaniyonu, Media Adviser to the Senate President, however, said the delay is not the fault of Saraki, as the Ministry of Finance is in charge of payment.