Chairman, House of Representative on Media and Public Affairs, Abdulrazak Namdas, said on Sunday that the Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and other principal officers have rejected the N10 billion proposed by the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, in the 2016 budget for the building of their official residences.
Namdas made the revelation in a statement yesterday while pointing out that the Eighth Assembly was conscious of the plight of Nigerians in the present economic situation.
He said, “The Eight National Assembly is very conscious and sensitive to the present economic woos bedevilling the country and has responded positively by making the much needed sacrifices.
“For example, President of the Senate Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki and House Speaker, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, rejected N10 billion the Federal Capital Territory Administration proposed in the 2016 budget for building of official residences of Principal Officers. They are all living in rented accommodation.
“The National Assembly, has also reduced its budget from N150 billion to N115 billion.
“Even though it is always erroneously and albeit mischievously insinuated that this money is shared among the 360 Reps and 109 senators.
“What is more tragic is the failure of intellectuals to realise that N150 billion some eight years ago is not the same amount now. Inflation has reduced that amount by over 50%,” he concluded.
