Legislative Aides petition Buhari, EFCC, ICPC against Lawan, Gbajabiamila, NASS Clerk over diversion of funds

Legislative aides to members of the National Assembly on Monday petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), complaining of alleged ‘criminal diversion of their budgeted legitimate entitlements’ by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Amos Ojo, the President of the Seante, Ahmad Lawan, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila,

The Legislative Aides protested at both the EFCC and ICPC Headquarters when they went to submit their petition to the respective agencies, protesting that they are not ‘slaves’ and should not be denied their entitlements.

In the petition dated February 14, 2022, addressed to EFCC Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, and ICPC Chairman, Bolaji Owasanoye, the aides stated that they are also owed Duty Tour Allowance (DTA), Minimum Wage Arrears from January 2020, training allowances, among others. They accused the Senate President, House Speaker, and the Clerk of the National Assembly of gross violation of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007.

The protesting support staff of the federal lawmakers displayed placards which read: “We are aides not slaves” – “Probe the Clerk to the National Assembly and NASS Presiding Officers for aides’ entitlement” – “NASS Management: Pay us our legitimate arrears and minimum wage” – “Pay us now: salary arrears, minimum wage, DTA, trainings” – “National Assembly aides are not slaves. A worker deserves his wages” – etc.

The petition signed by Zebis Kekung and Kingsley Ejekwu Esq. for Concerned Legislative Aides of the 9th National Assembly, read:

“The non-payment of these accumulated legitimate entitlements has turned legislative aides into legislative slaves.

“We have been pauperized to the extent that we are unable to meet our financial obligations like payment of school fees, hospital bills, house rents, debt servicing, putting us into several embarrassing situations.

“All avenues we employed in appealing to the consciences of the President of the Senate Senator (Dr.) Ahmad Lawan, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. ‘Femi Gbajabiamila and the Clerk of the National Assembly, Arch. Amos Ojo, has proved abortive hence the last recourse to this petition.

“It is instructive to note that legislative aides affairs are directly under the purview of the Speaker.

“We are therefore beseeching you to use your good office to investigate this criminal diversion of our budgeted legitimate entitlements, bring the culprits to book and ensure the prompt payment of the allowances and arrears to us.

“For the avoidance of doubts, our prayers are: payment of our salary arrears that was duly appropriated; payment of our DTA allowance and training allowance including laptops; payment of our minimum wages from January 2020 till date and transparency in the management of Legislative Aides account to avoid breach of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007”.

The Aides copied President Muhammadu Buhari; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; the Inspector General of Police, Alkali Baba Usman and Director General, State Security Service (SSS), Yusuf Bichi, in the petition.

Other ooficers copied include Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Babajide Omoworare; Social Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP); BUDGiT; Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) and Human Rights Radio.