Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, Senator Shehu Umar Buba, has called on the Bauchi State Government to urgently release disaster relief funds to assist flood victims across the state. The appeal is coming after the recent flooding that devastated several communities, particularly in Fadaman Mada, where homes and properties were severely damaged.

As part of his personal effort to alleviate the suffering of flood victims, Senator Buba donated N10 million and 500 bags of rice to five affected local government areas: Katagum, Giade, Jamma’are, Zaki, and Darazo.
Each area received N2 million and 100 bags of rice as immediate relief.

Expressing his condolences to the affected families, Senator Buba conveyed his deep sadness over the tragedy. “I received the news of the unfortunate incident with great sorrow, and I pray that Allah grants the victims the strength to endure this loss,” he said.

The Senator further urged the Bauchi State Government to swiftly access the N3 billion disaster relief fund provided by the Federal Government for states affected by natural disasters.
The funds, allocated by the National Economic Council, are designated to support victims of such calamities, including the recent floods.

Senator Buba emphasized the importance of quick governmental action, noting that the timely release and proper management of the funds would greatly help in rebuilding the lives and homes of those impacted. His call highlights the urgent need for a coordinated and effective response to the disaster, which has left many in the region in need of immediate assistance.

The community now looks to the state government for prompt intervention as they work toward recovery from the floods.

Contrary to the N13.5m claims in some quarters the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has disclosed that each Senator takes N1,063,360,00 as monthly salary and allowances.

The Chairman of RMAFC, Mohammed Bello Shehu, made the disclosure through a statement in Abuja on Tuesday

He said, each Senator collects a monthly salary and allowances of N1,063,8860.00 made up of basic salary- N168,366,70; motor vehicle/fuel maintenance allowances- N266,50.00, Personal Assistant N42,216.66, Domestic staff N126,650.00 Entertainment N50,660.

Others are– Utilities N50,660.00, Newspapers/ Periodicals N25,330.00, Wardrobe N42,216,66.00, House maintenance N8,443,.00 and Constituency  Allowance N422,166.66 respectively.

The statement reads, “The Commission wishes to clear the air on the controversy surrounding the salaries and allowances payable to Members of the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, an issue that continues to occupy the front burner of national discourse, especially amongst Elder Statesmen, public affairs commentators, civil society and the media.”

The statement indicated that the clarification has become expedien and instructive given the recent comments made by Mr. Shehu Sani, a former Senator of the Federal Republic who was reported to have disclosed to the public that each Senator collects a monthly running cost of N13.5m in addition to the monthly N750, 000 prescribed by the Commission.

It explained that the RMAFC does not have constitutional powers to enforce compliance with proper implementation of the Remuneration package adding that the lacuna is, however, being addressed by the National Assembly.

“It is instructive to note that some allowances are regular while others are non-regular. Regular allowances are paid regularly with Basic Salary while Non-Regular allowances are paid as at when due. For instance, Furniture allowance (N6,079,200) and Severance Gratuity (N6,079,200) are paid once in every tenure, and Vehicle allowance (N8,105,600) which is optional is a loan that the beneficiary has to pay before leaving office.”

 “It is important to also emphasize that except some few Political, Public Office holders such as the President, Vice President, Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, etc., all Public and Legislative Officers are no longer provided with housing as was the case in the past.

 “The Commission also wishes to use this opportunity to state that any allegation regarding other allowance(s) being enjoyed by any political, public office holder outside those provided in the Remuneration (Amendment) Act, 2008 should be explained by the person who made the allegation.”

 It explained that to avoid misinformation and misrepresentation of facts capable of misleading citizens and members of the International Community, the Commission considers it most appropriate and necessary to request Nigerians and any other interested party to avail themselves of the opportunity to access the actual details of the present Remuneration package for Political, Public, and Judicial Office holders in Nigeria published on its website: www.rmafc.gov.ng.

**We have not done anything to sabotage Local refineries

The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC limited) Mele Kyari on Wednesday opened up on his frustration over a what he described as media attack on his person insisting that they at the company are not thieves or criminals
This was as the Senate panel also raised questions over $1.5 billion approved in 2021 for the turn-around maintenance of the Port Harcourt Refinery with little or no result amid pervasive allegations of sabotage in the petroleum industry
Consequently, the upper chamber lamented that it was unfair and wrong to treat government businesses or public companies as an orphan while private businesses were flourishing and thriving.
Kiyari expressed his frustration at the Senate Ad-hoc Committee probing alleged economic sabotage interactive session with critical stakeholders in the Petroleum Industry in Abuja on Wednesday.

Continuing, Kyari said,
“I will wait for the public hearing, and I also agree with the the Minister that it should be broadcast live so that Nigerians will hear us. So that all the misinformation that you see today will be put to the side, so that Nigerians will know the truth.

“And all of us here see what is happening in the media. Targeted personal attack on my person, on the institution, and we all know how this works.They are deliberate, they are calculated.
“So that it creates the impression that NNPC Limited and our leadership are doing anything to create economic sabotage in our country. It is far from it, Mr. Chairman.
“This company has grown,We are proud to say this. From a lost company for 43 years to a profit-making company today.
“It is very clear from everything you have said. Through this investigative hearing, that you can see the majority of the issues you have raised have nothing to do with NNPC Limited. Yet, everybody believes, by sheer misinformation which the Minister has highlighted, that NNPC is responsible for creating any economic sabotage in our country.

According to him, refining business is straight business where the feedstock and you must secure a market. This is basic even for NMPC refiners.

“Let me talk straight to this, It is a perfect opportunity also we have done nothing to sabotage any domestic refinery. Any one of them. There are many of them.

“Some of them are small scale. Mr. Chairman, but there is a law that guides everything we are doing. Mr. Chairman, the law is clear.
“There is domestic crude oil supply obligation. Yes, what it is saying is that process it locally, provide for local refinery, absolutely correct.
“But the law also says that there must be a willing buyer and a willing seller. He didn’t say anything else. And perhaps the only way it cannot be solved is for this National Assembly to change the law.”