Senator Ireti Kingibe, representing the Labour Party for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), found herself in a challenging situation on a national television broadcast last Wednesday when the news regarding Senator Godswill Akpabio’s holiday package, combining prayers and money for senators, started to gain attention.
The sequence of events unfolded on the previous Monday night as the Senate concluded the process of reviewing and affirming President Bola Tinubu’s ministerial nominees, an official procedure labeled as “screening.” It seems Senator Akpabio was unaware that his microphone was active when he made the following statement:
“In order to enable all of us to enjoy our holidays, a token has been sent to our various accounts by the Clerk of the National Assembly.”
Upon realizing his error, Akpabio swiftly responded by retracting his statement, asserting that he had actually distributed “prayers” to their “mailboxes.”
Thus, during Senator Kingibe’s appearance on the Channels Television program, she was questioned about receiving the money. In a humorous tone, she replied that she hadn’t received any prayers, but jestingly added that she would check her email for them. The member of the Labour Party acknowledged that while many might assume the payments were allowances for lawmakers, they could potentially be “statutory things” that they would have received regardless.
Earlier that same Wednesday, a senator who confirmed receiving the package expressed his frustration, revealing that the sum was a modest N2 million.
As Senator Kingibe pointed out, if the payment was indeed a statutory entitlement, should senators be criticized for claiming what is rightfully theirs? Given the alleged financial inclination of some lawmakers, the revelation that senators received N2 million for their holiday could indeed be astonishing for those accustomed to the lavish lifestyles often attributed to legislators.
It’s pertinent to note that this money was legitimately disbursed, as indicated by the debit alert originating from the official National Assembly account.
This wasn’t the usual covert arrangement we often hear of, involving vested interests, government agencies, and the like, contributing funds for distribution among lawmakers or committee members.
Given the current challenging circumstances within the country, with various difficulties arising from official government policies, it’s not surprising that many people are taken aback by the news of our senators sharing N218 million for a holiday.
Certainly, a significant portion of this holiday fund will be spent abroad, considering the well-established reality that it’s more cost-effective for senators to be overseas rather than in their constituencies, where they are frequently approached by constituents seeking assistance.
However, the predicament with the N2 million given to senators for their holidays is that the Senate President tried to backtrack when he realized he had inadvertently made the sharing public. Akpabio should understand the importance of not personally involving himself in matters of fund distribution; he should entrust it to the management. As one individual commented on Friday, Akpabio, a seasoned participant in ‘off your mike dramas’ within the National Assembly, needs to grasp the art of knowing when to remain silent.
The Senate President must grasp that money often serves as the catalyst for rebellion within the Senate. Many senators are already harboring resentment, believing that he has subjected them to public humiliation over what some view as a mere “ordinary N2 million.” He must exercise caution with his words and restrain his typical exuberance, recognizing that he holds the position of first among equals rather than that of an executive Senate President.
In the meantime, the sincere apology tendered by Mr. Festus Keyamo last Monday, subsequent to the Senate initially denying him ministerial screening, is poised to bolster the lawmaking body’s confidence.
Viewing video footage of Keyamo from three years ago, fervently confronting the lawmakers, and then observing a more subdued Keyamo last Monday repeatedly saying, “I am sorry, I am sorry, I am sorry,” surely captured the attention of those who chronicle the Senate’s influence.
Keyamo and the Senate Committee on Labour had clashed in June 2020 when the minister accused the National Assembly of attempting to take control of the job scheme devised by the Muhammadu Buhari administration to provide employment for 774,000 individuals across the nation.
At the time, lawmakers contended that due to their local presence, they were best suited to oversee job distribution. However, Keyamo publicly contested their claim. Now, new information has surfaced during last Monday’s screening, indicating that Keyamo reconciled with the lawmakers following their public altercation.
Furthermore, it has come to light that amidst the ongoing commotion, there’s a possibility that the lawmakers might have actually gained advantages from the employment program. Whether their reconciliation occurred as Keyamo asserted, a fact the legislators did not contest, remains a mystery.
While highlighting the potential insufficiency of the officially allocated N2 million holiday funds, an assertion disputed by almost all Senators, a more pressing concern lies in the undisclosed agreements reached between lawmakers and government officials beyond the parliamentary chambers.
Similar to the behind-the-scenes settlement between the National Assembly Committee on Labour and Keyamo in 2020, numerous lawmakers are also engaging in undisclosed agreements with government agencies. This obscured realm is where the roots of corruption lie.
Unless proactive measures are taken to enhance transparency across all government sectors, the challenges of corruption or the transformation of Akpabio into an apparent ‘prayer warrior’ will persistently linger.
