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Federal
investigators are getting ready to probe the allowances drawn by
members of the National Assembly, who are considered the most overpaid
but the most under-performing public servants.

The Independent
Corrupt Practices and other related offences commission (ICPC) last
Tuesday fired the first shot by way of an inquiry to the Clerk of the
National Assembly, asking for details and copies of all the vouchers
that have been used to pay legislators since 2007.

Emmanuel Ayoola,
the chairman of the commission, had stated at a forum last week, as
reported by NEXT, that investigators from his agency would commence a
thorough scrutiny into the allowances being collected by the
legislators. Investigators told NEXT yesterday that they had not heard
back from the National Assembly but could understand the jolt this
could cause a group of Nigerians who had settled into a prolonged
practice of “poor behaviour.” Mr Obasanjo, the former president,
recently lashed out at the legislators, accusing them of grand
corruption, including receiving about N250 million in salaries and
allowances.

“Yes, we have sent
the Clerk of the National Assembly the letter. We expect their response
and also their full cooperation in our investigations,” the media
consultant to the ICPC, Folu Olamiti, told NEXT, confirming the moves
of his agency.

However, Daminabo
Monima, the director of Information of the National Assembly, expressed
ignorance when NEXT tried to find out if the office of the clerk had
received the letter.

“I am not aware of such a request. If I am aware, I will tell you,” Mr Monima stated.

Unapproved money

However, an
official in the office of the Clerk to the National Assembly, who
requested anonymity, hinted that they have received such a letter,
explaining that “I think it has been forwarded to the Directorate of
Personnel, since it involved payment and allowances to legislators; and
the Directorate of Legal Matters, since it involved an investigation
agency”. A senior official at the same office, however, became hostile
when he learnt that a NEXT reporter was seeking to know about the
letter from the ICPC, declining to answer any question.

Salaries and allowances of legislators, as well as those of other
public office holders, are approved by the Revenue Mobilisation
Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC). As reported by various media,
including NEXT, however, each senator receives N48 million quarterly,
as “office running cost,” while each member of the House of
Representatives receives 35 million naira for the same purpose. This
money is not approved by the RMAFC.