N1.8 million on newspapers. N10 million for domestic trips. N1.5 million to maintain a computer \u2014 every three months.<\/p>\n
A newly-obtained National Assembly spending document cited these and nine similar expenses as leading justifications for the multi-million naira payouts lawmakers rake in monthly or quarterly as \u201crunning cost\u201d.<\/p>\n
Titled \u201cApplication for the Retirement of Fund,\u201d the document offers Nigerians a fair idea of how a typical Nigerian senator spends their running cost on what anti-corruption activists are describing as \u201cmisguided and wasteful\u201d use of public funds.<\/p>\n
PREMIUM TIMES obtained the document from a former senator who was in office between 2011 and 2015 when senators were still receiving N45 million quarterly. He asked that his identity is protected to avoid backlash from his constituents, serving lawmakers or their supporters.<\/p>\n
Cumulatively, the 109 lawmakers in the Senate received about N314 billion in so-called running cost between 1999 and 2016, and N53 billion so far within the past three years under President Muhammadu Buhari.<\/p>\n
First on the list of how the senator spent N45 million in 2012 within 90 days was N8 million that went on international travel. Local travels took N10 million.<\/p>\n
The senator also blew N7.4 million on \u2018contingency\u2019 expenses.<\/p>\n
Other expenses include office supplies, N3 million; maintenance of office equipment N1.6 million; postage; 500,000; hospitality; N6.8 million; printing press and consumables, N1.4 million; computer material consumables, N2 million and maintenance of a motor vehicle, N1 million.<\/p>\n
Put into context, a senator who gets N1.8 million for newspapers every 90 days would have purchased newspapers worth 20,000 per day.<\/p>\n
Similarly, to spend N10 million on local trips within 90 days would require spending about N111, 000 per day on the road or air trips.<\/p>\n
From:https:\/\/www.premiumtimesng.com<\/p>\n
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