Senate president, Bukola Saraki has replied the shocking letter former President, Olusegun Obasanjo wrote the National Assembly accusing the lawmakers of corruption, impunity, greed and of repeatedly breaking the nation's laws.
Senate President, Bukola Saraki
The former president had in his letter, addressed to Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, accused the lawmakers of fixing and earning salaries and allowances far above what the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission approved for them.
He also alleged that most of the 109 senators and 369 members of the House of Representatives were receiving constituency allowances without maintaining constituency offices as the laws required of them.
He faulted the plans by the lawmakers to acquire new exotic cars for themselves, saying, 'Whatever name it is disguised as, it is unnecessary and insensitive.' He advised that 'a pool of a few cars for each chamber will suffice for any Committee Chairman or members for any specific duty.'
In his response, Saraki told the former president that the lawmakers were fully aware of the challenges the nation was facing, saying, 'As leaders with a duty, we will not disappoint Nigerians in their yearnings for a more transparent public expenditure system.'
On corruption, Saraki said the National Assembly was working with President Muhammadu Buhari to stem the menace in the country.
According to him, the legislature was already overhauling its oversight functions to make it more effective in exposing corruption in federal ministries, departments and agencies.
Read the letter in full below;