Sumaila Kawu, the senator representing Kano South, has accused former President Olusegun Obasanjo of introducing corruption to the National Assembly.
Kawu said this while reacting to recent comments by Obasanjo that members of the National Assembly were responsible for fixing their salaries and allowances.
“When you are talking about corruption, it is Obasanjo who introduced corruption into the National Assembly,” Senator Kawu said in an interview with ChannelsTV on Thursday.
Kawu, who is also the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Sport, added: “I have proof because it is his government and his associates who corrupted some members of the National Assembly for them to alter the Constitution for him to continue [to contest for a third term as president].”
The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) recently announced that each senator earns N1 million monthly.
Meanwhile, Senate spokesman Yemi Adaramodu challenged those with credible evidence challenging the announcement by RMAFC to present contrary facts.
Adaramodu said the lawmakers get salaries and allowances as fixed by RMAFC in line with the Constitution.
“To straighten the records, the Senate receives only the salary allocated constitutionally by the Revenue Mobilisation Fiscal Allocation Commission. We challenge anyone who is privileged, either in a qualified or absolute position to bring forth any contrary fact,” he said in a statement.
“The Senators or the National Assembly do not and cannot fix their salaries. Any suggestions contrary is uncharitable and satanic. It’s only an attempt to crucify the legislature by the centurions of political hypocrisy. It’s pertinent to inform the unsuspecting public that no Senator has received any monetary patronage from the Presidency.”