Sumaila Kawu, the Senator representing Kano South has accused former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo of introducing corruption into the National Assembly, while in power.
This accusation follows Obasanjo’s recent criticism of lawmakers for allegedly setting their salaries and allowances amid the ongoing economic hardship in the country.
In a sharp rebuttal, Senator Kawu, who has made headlines recently with his comments about lawmakers’ earnings, blamed Obasanjo for laying the foundation of corruption in the legislative arm of government.
“When you are talking about corruption, it is Obasanjo who introduced corruption into the National Assembly,” Kawu said during an appearance on Channels Television, on Thursday.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Sport did not stop there, asserting that he has proof to back up his claim.
Kawu alleged that Obasanjo’s government and his associates corrupted certain members of the National Assembly in an attempt to alter the Constitution to allow him to run for a third term as president.
He said, “I have proof because it is his government and his associates who corrupted some members of the National Assembly for them to alter the Constitution for him to continue to contest for a third term as president.”
Obasanjo, who served as Nigeria’s president from 1999 to 2007, has recently been vocal about the issue of lawmakers’ compensation, accusing them of being out of touch with the economic realities faced by ordinary Nigerians.
His remarks have reignited the long-standing debate over the salaries and allowances of federal lawmakers.
The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has provided a breakdown of senators’ earnings, stating that each senator receives a total of ₦1 million.
The breakdown includes: Basic Salary – ₦168,866.70; Motor Vehicle Fuelling and Maintenance Allowance – ₦126,650.00; Personal Assistant – ₦42,216.66; Domestic Staff – ₦126,650.00; Entertainment – ₦50,660.00; Utilities – ₦50,660.00; Newspapers/Periodicals – ₦25,330.00; Wardrobe – ₦42,216.66; House Maintenance – ₦8,443.33; and Constituency Allowance – ₦422,166.66.
