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.

The Senate Panel on Public Accounts on Tuesday, berated the managements of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited ( NNPCL), the Federal Inland Revenue Service(FIRS),the Nigeria Police Force and 12 others over failure to respond to queries raised against them in the 2019 Audit report.
The Chairman of the panel, Senator Ahmed  Wadada Aliyu (SDP Nasarawa West) while expressing his disappointment, said since heads of the affected agencies refused to respond to queries raised against them in the 2019 audit report after several opportunities for them to do so, going forward, any agency that refuses to honour invitation to defend queries against it will have its queries sustained and reported to  the Senate   Plenary by the committee.

He added that the attitude of the affected public agencies on persistent refusal to respond to queries against them in audit report was frustrating and working against the aspirations and goals of President Bola Tinubu led federal government.

According to him , apart from NNPCL, FIRS and the Police , other heads of agencies who declined to honour committee’s invitations to respond to queries against them over time included, the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Nigeria Mining Cadastre Office, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (former DPR) and Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade & Investment.

Others are FCT Internal Revenue Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, Ministry of Defence and Nigeria Communications Satellite Limited etc .

He said , “It is worthy to state that the Committee commenced the consideration of the Audit Report in October, 2023, with a view to presenting its report to the Plenary.

“However, some agencies have willfully failed to honour invitations to defend their written responses to the audit queries as submitted to the Committee Secretariat.

“Beside the demand for submission of written responses to audit queries, part of the Committee’s rules of engagement requires that Accounting Officers attend the Committee’s Public Hearing to respond to questions arising from the analysis of their submissions which in turn forms a basis for informed decision on the matter by the Committee.

“The desire of the Public Accounts Committee to timely discharge its constitutional and legislative function is being by the evasive and negative actions of some CEOs Or accounting officers of the concerned MDAs. 

“The Committee is very displeased with the attitude of foot dragging by agencies who are by law, expected to respond to parliamentary invitations and account for their actions.

“The  Committee has over time, extended invitations to those agencies providing them ample opportunities to defend their queries but for reasons best known to them, these agencies have chosen to disregard invitations.

It is on this note that we as a Committee have resolved that going forward, the Senate Public Accounts Committee will go ahead to consider their audit queries as contained in the Auditor-General Annual’s Report and any MDA that henceforth fails to honour invitations to respond and present its defense, the Committee wil adopt the position of the Auditor.

“Also, this resolution would be added to our rules of engagement if MDAs fail to improve on their attendance to our invitations”.

He however stated that the  Committee is not in doubt of the Commitment of the Present Administration under the His Excellency  President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to make Nigeria better but with the attitude of the afford mentioned Chief Executives,  that will not be acheivable unless and Until we all do the needful”.

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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.