Lawmakers say it’s a sacrifice for Nigeria
The Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, Speaker of the House of
Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and other principal officers have
rejected the N10 billion proposed by the Federal Capital Territory
Administration (FCTA) in the 2016 budget for the construction of their
official residences.
It was learnt at the weekend that the principal officers were all still
living in rented accommodation in the territory. Chairman, House of
Representatives Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Abdulrazak
Namdas who made the revelation in a statement yesterday said the
Eighth Assembly “is very conscious and sensitive to the present
economic woos bedeviling the country and has responded positively by
making the much needed sacrifices. For example, President of the
Senate Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki and House Speaker, Rt. Hon.
Yakubu Dogara, rejected N10 billion the Federal Capital Territory
Administration proposed in the 2016 budget for building of official
residences of Principal officers. They are all living in rented
accommodation.
“The National Assembly, has also reduced its budget from N150 billion
to N115 billion. Even though it is always erroneously and albeit
mischievously insinuated that this money is shared among the 360
Reps and 109 senators. What is more tragic is the failure of
intellectuals to realise that N150 billion some eight years ago is not the
same amount now. Inflation has reduced that amount by over 50%.
“The truth is, there are agencies and bodies like National Assembly
Service Commission, Public Complains Commission and National
Institute for Legislative Studies that draw their funding from the N115
billion total allocation to National Assembly which represents less than
1.9 per cent of the over N6 trillion budget.”
Sundry issues including delay in the provision of infrastructure in the
new official residence built by FCTA for National Assembly presiding
officers at Maitama Extension (renamed Goodluck Jonathan District)
forced then Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Deputy Senate president and Deputy Speaker during the Seventh
Assembly to reject the quarters.
Then FCT Minister, Bala Mohammed disclosed that the construction of
the N3 billion new official accommodation by construction giant, Julius
Berger at the site located behind the Lungi Military Barrack in the city
centre was discontinued.
In March Mohammed indicated that the then President of the Senate,
David Mark, his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu as well as the Speaker of the
House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and his Deputy,
Emeka Ihedioha will not move into the new residence being built for
presiding officers of the National Assembly at the Three Arms Zone
before the completion of the Seventh Assembly in June 2015.
He disclosed that the new quarters being built by FCTA for the four
presiding officers of the parliament will be ready for occupation after the
inauguration of the Eighth Assembly.
Culled from: http://guardian.ng/news/saraki-dogara-reject-n10b-fct-
official-residence/
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