Ibe: Akpabio’s N’Assembly Undermines RMFAC in Fixing Own Salaries, Allowances

•Says Obasanjo is vindicated

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

Special adviser to former Vice-President Atiku Abubukar, Paul Ibe, has accused the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio of superintending over a National Assembly that undermined the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Account Commission (RMFAC) in fixing the salaries and allowances of members of the National Assembly.

He said while this was going on while Nigerians working were wallowing in poverty.

Ibe said the courageous statement by Senator Sumalia Kawu, has vindicated former President Olusegun Obasanjo that it was morally unfair for the National Assembly to fix its salaries and allowances.

“Senator Sumaila Kawu has courageously stepped up to assert that his monthly take home is N21 million in allowances apart from about N1 million in salary, thus vindicating former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s accusation that it was immorally wrong of the Senator Godswill Akpabio-led NASS to fix own salaries and allowances in contravention of the laws of Nigeria.

“The position of Sen. Sumaila (I do hope that the chopping Sen. Akpabio will not suspend him like Ningi or strip him of his position like Ndume) not only confirms what Obasanjo said, it also puts a lie to the official response of the Senate that it does not fix its own salaries and allowances.

“In an institution populated with lackeys with no balls to hold the reckless executive to account, Sen. Sumaila’s courageous act is worthy of commendation.

“It is, however, ironic that the NASS which is saddled with the task of making laws for the good governance of Nigeria, is the one that is breaking the law and undermining the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMFAC), which is the commission that is constitutionally empowered to fix salaries and allowances of public officials, including members of the NASS.”