Senate Denies Receiving Monetary Patronage From Presidency, Responds to Obasanjo

• The Senate refuted former President Obasanjo’s allegations of lawmakers determining their own salaries and receiving monetary patronage from the Presidency
• Senate spokesperson Adaramodu emphasized that salaries are constitutionally allocated and challenged anyone to provide evidence against their claims of financial misconduct

The Senate has refuted former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s claims that federal lawmakers receive monetary patronage from the Presidency and determine their salaries. Obasanjo made these assertions during a Friday meeting in Abeokuta, Ogun State, where he hosted a group of House of Representatives members.

In response, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Adaramodu (APC, Ekiti South), issued a statement on Sunday dismissing Obasanjo’s comments as false. He emphasized that the 10th Senate is committed to being a responsible and responsive chamber focused on the nation’s economic growth and development.

The statement reads in part, “To clarify the records, the Senate receives only the salary allocated constitutionally by the Revenue Mobilisation Fiscal Allocation Commission. We challenge anyone with credible evidence to the contrary to come forward. Senators or the National Assembly do not have the authority to set their salaries.”

Senator Adaramodu further criticized Obasanjo’s remarks, calling them “uncharitable and satanic,” and described them as an attempt to tarnish the legislature. He also clarified that no Senator has received any financial incentives from the Presidency.

Addressing the issue of constituency projects, which Obasanjo had referenced, Senator Adaramodu explained, “The so-called constituency projects are not for the legislators. They are merely suggested and nominated by the legislators, as in other democracies worldwide. The executive arm of government awards the contracts to qualified contractors and ensures the implementation of these projects through its respective ministries and agencies.”

He added that the allocation for these projects varies based on the number of constituencies in each state and is intended to ensure that all regions of Nigeria benefit from federal initiatives.

The Senate’s response underscores its stance on maintaining transparency and adhering to the constitutional processes regarding lawmakers’ remuneration and the execution of constituency projects.