Senators and members of the House of Representatives that will
constitute the 8th National Assembly and ministers to be appointed by
President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), will on assumption of
office receive welcome perks amounting to N9bn.
The perks of office include the housing allowance which each of the
incoming office holder is entitled to receive once a year, the furniture
allowance which they are entitled to once in four years and motor
vehicle loan which they are entitled to once in their tenure.
The perks are some of the non-regular allowances that the political
office holders are entitled to as prescribed by the Revenue
Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission.
There are other allowances, both regular and irregular ones, but
housing, furniture and motor vehicle are paid at the beginning of the
tenure of the office holders to ensure that they settle down
appropriately.
Housing allowance for the political office holders is 200 per cent of
their annual salaries; furniture is 300 per cent and motor vehicle loan
is 400 per cent.
The Senate President and the Deputy Senate President are not entitled to
this allowance because their own accommodation is to be provided by the
Federal Government.
Similarly, each member of the House of Representatives will be paid N3, 970,425 as housing allowance on assumption of office.
This means that the 358 representatives will be collecting a total of
N1, 421,412,150 as housing allowance. Again, the Speaker and Deputy
Speaker of the House of Representatives are excluded from this allowance
as the Federal Government is to provide their own accommodation.
The principal officers of the National Assembly also benefited from the
sale of Government houses. As a result, the Federal Capital Territory
Administration is at present building new houses for the lawmakers that
will emerge as the Senate President, the Deputy Senate President, the
Speaker and the Deputy Speaker.
For furniture, each of the senators is to get N6, 079,200. The furniture
for both the Senate President and his deputy are to be fully provided
by the government. This means that 107 senators will get a total of
N650, 474,400 as furniture allowance. Furniture allowance is paid once
in four years.
Punch.
