A group of protesters, under
the umbrella of Citizen Action to Take Back Nigeria (CATBN) have urged
the National Assembly to put an end to their illegal allowances.
The protesters, who were camped outside the NASS complex, had their own DJ who was playing the music of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.
“Citizens
are demanding that senators should stop stealing through the running
cost; they should terminate the running cost. They collect this and
citizens are dying,” Ibrahim Garba, who spoke on behalf of the group, told The Cable.
“We
are suffering because we are cowards in our own country. We are here to
take back the national assembly. That is why we are here. We are not
for the fun of it but because we are representing Nigerians.
“When
you try to manipulate the budget… you put N7.2 billion in your
constituency then say it’s lobby. What kind of lobby is that? We are
frustrated because students have no classes, teachers don’t have no
teaching aides but senators are being paid their allowances. Children
are dying in the north east.
“Their
convoy alone can build factories. Running cost is ruining our lives.
EFCC, ICPC and the police should arrest them, they should consider the
citizens, we need children to go back to school,” he added.
The
issue of N10 million being used as running cost was raised by former
Chairman of the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee, Abdulmumin Jibrin who urged lawmakers to either return the money or be exposed.
“I
hereby demand that if you have illegally taken or stolen any money
meant for the running cost of your offices for the entire stay in the
house, you should return it within one week to the clerk of the national
assembly and for the purpose of clarity, I am referring to about N10
million you collect from tax payers monies monthly,” Jibrin said via a statement released on Thursday, September 29.
ALSO READ: Budget padding is not an offence, I won't resign - Dogara
Jibrin has also accused Speaker, Yakubu Dogara and other senior members of the House of budget padding.
He was subsequently suspended by the House for 180 legislative days.
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