Amid the hardship in Nigeria, Senate President Godswill Akpabio has landed himself on hot seat with angry Nigerians as he mistakenly announced the payment of undisclosed amount of money to enable Senators “to enjoy your holiday”.
Akpabio, who obviously forgot that Senate proceeding was being beamed live to national audience, spoke so confidently as he announced thus: “As soon as Senator Umahi takes his oath of office, we shall rearrange the office of the leadership.
“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.”
Akpabio only realised the national alarm he raised when an unidentified Senator rushed to make him know he was on live TV. He then said: “I withdraw that statement. In order to allow you to enjoy your holiday, the Senate President has sent prayers to your mailboxes to assist you to go on a safe journey and return.”
It’s not clear the amount that was sent to the lawmakers as their salaries and allowances are shrouded in secrecy.
However, the development comes amid the nationwide hardship occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy, which led to the price of fuel hitting N613 per litre from N197 per litre when the new government came in at the end of May.
Nigerians are currently reacting to the video, lamenting how the leaders asked the masses to make sacrifices while they carry on with extravagance.
When President Bola Tinubu forwarded a bill to amend the 2022 Supplementary Act to the National Assembly, N70 billion was approved to “support the working conditions” of new lawmakers while N19 billion was approved for farmers who suffered the devastating effect of the 2022 floods across the country.
The “enjoyment allowance” saga is one of the controversies that have rocked Akpabio’s Senate Presidency, which is just few months.
In July, there was outrage after Akpabio was captured on live TV joking about “Let The Poor Breathe,” a phrase that became popular after an interview granted by President Bola Tinubu.
Although the media office of the Senate President made certain clarifications on the incident, Nigerians expressed anger over it.
Meanwhile, political activist Timi Frank has tackled the Senate President over the holiday enjoyment payment, describing it as a mockery of democracy and Nigerians.
Calling on Akpabio to resign his position immediately, Frank said it is insensitive for the National Assembly members to enjoy national resources in the name of holidaying at a time Nigerians were facing hardships and other economic challenges.
According to Frank: “The show of shame that was demonstrated today (Monday) on a live national television where the Senate under Akpabio was telling the whole world and Nigerians that they are going on vacation, and the Clerk of the National Assembly has paid money to every account of the Nigerian Senators.
“This is the biggest joke we’ve seen in recent times, and that is the main reason why I’m making it bold and very clear that Senator God’swill Akpabio must immediately resign as the Senate President. He cannot continue to make mockery of our democracy and make mockery of Nigerians.
“This is the same man who made mockery of the poor, and made it very clear in the Senate chamber by saying ‘Let the poor breathe’. Meanwhile, he was laughing because he knew they will definitely never allow the poor to breathe, they’ll continue to suffocate the poor and that is what he demonstrated today (Monday) on a live TV by sharing the resources that belongs to the poor to their personal accounts.
“Akpabio has shown that since the inception of the Nigerian Senate, this is the most corrupt Senate President ever Nigerians have witnessed.
“I use this opportunity to call on President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to end this joke and Nollywood act of Akpabio, that this is the time he the President must tell Akpabio to resign for this show of shame and national embarrassment, Nigerians can no longer take this in this APC government anymore.
“Nigerians have suffered too much in recent times. We did not vote our Senators to come and take money from the poor to go on vacation,” he said.
Frank also called on members of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) to cut off all communications with the federal government until their demands were met.
He said, “So therefore, I use this opportunity to call on the Nigerian Labour Congress to seize every discussion and communication with the federal government until the salary of Nigerian workers must be increased.
“Nigerians can no longer bear this. This Nollywood has to end, and the time to end this Nollywood is now. So, I appeal to Nigerians to prepare for a total shutdown until Akpabio resigns as the Senate President of Nigeria,” he added.