Controversy is trailing claims that each Senator received N36 million allowance before going on the six-week summer recess penultimate week.
National Assembly sources at the weekend said that contrary to denials by federal the lawmakers, each Senator received N36 million credit alerts from their various banks shortly before they proceeded on the current six-week annual recess.
But Senators have dismissed receiving any such amount with some insisting they were still facing serious financial crisis as a result of non-payment of their salaries and other allowances.
Those who spoke either on record or strictly on condition of anonymity, lamented that the development was having serious, adverse effects on them.
The Senator representing Zamfara Central, Kabir Garba Marafa, confirmed that the alleged naira rain in the Senate was nothing but a mere ruse because he was not aware of such development.
“I have not received any alert concerning the amount that was allegedly paid into our accounts and my account manager has not even called to inform me of any lodgement into my account.
“Since it is not possible for me to be paid by cash, I will say the report is a big story to me. I can confirm that I received N3.998million being my severance allowance for the Seventh Senate a few weeks ago and I am not aware of any other payment,” he said.
Marafa said what the federal lawmakers got on resumption were loans deducted off-front from their salaries to enable them to settle down.
He noted that the loans, which were a far cry from the amount being quoted in the media, was payable in four years.
“This money, especially the housing loan, is from our salaries. They will be deducted at source as soon as salaries are being paid. How does that translate to being referred to as naira rain?
Senator Adesoji Akanbi from Oyo State dismissed the report, describing the figures quoted as “bogus because it did not reflect the amount so far collected by each member as loans.
“I insist that there is still a very serious cash crunch in the Senate. Reporters should carry out comprehensive investigation and should also beam their searchlight also on the executive arm of government.
“An average Senator pays for virtually everything he needs for himself and members of his family whereas it is not the case with a governor, minister or even chairman of a local government who, apart from security votes, also enjoy free accommodation and transportation.
“There are even provisions for the wives of chairmen of local governments who were encouraged to have aides like their husbands. Can you compare the affluence being enjoyed by the executive to the value of the amount being earned by a Senator,?” he asked. (Daily Sun)