News
Outgoing Senators, Reps, Aides To Get N30.2bn Severance Allowances
Senators and members of the House of Representatives will be sharing a total of N30.2 billion as severance allowance when the 9th National Assembly winds down next month, The Tide has learnt.
Also to benefit from the said sum are aides of the federal lawmakers.
Severance package or gratuity is money paid to lawmakers and their aides at the end of their four-year tenure.
The amount in question is already captured in the 2023 Appropriation Act passed by the National Assembly and assented to by President Muhammadu Buhari.
It represents 12.6 per cent of the N238.78 billion allocated to the National Assembly in the N21.8 trillion 2023 Appropriation Act.
The severance package is N7 billion higher than the N23.678 billion approved for the Eighth Assembly.
Of the N30.2 billion, Senate President Ahmad Lawan is expected to receive about N7.45 million while the Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, will receive N6.93 million.
Each of the remaining 107 Senators will go home with N6.08 million.
House of Representatives Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, is entitled to N7.43 million while Deputy Speaker Ahmed Idris Wase’s share is N6.86 million.
Each of the other 358 Reps will get N5.96 million.
The severance package of each of the 6,375 legislative aides depends on their salary grade.
Besides the money, the 469 lawmakers (including those re-elected) and some of their aides will go home with their official vehicles worth N5.5 billion.
This amount was part of the N125 billion budgetary allocation to the National Assembly in 2019.
They are also entitled to go home with some of their office equipment and consumables, including refrigerators, laptops and personal computers, among other entitlements.
Investigation showed that some of the lawmakers who are not returning and their aides are already clearing their offices of personal belongings, while those who won re-election into the 10th Assembly have also arranged their property in readiness for movement to new offices soon to be allocated to them by the National Assembly management based on ranking.
Many of the lawmakers started moving their personal effects out of the National Assembly immediately after the last party primary elections in May 2022 when they failed to secure their parties’ tickets, while others started moving theirs after the last general election.
Investigations also show that aides to some non returning lawmakers, both at the Senate and House of Representatives, were busy packing their belongings into bags while others were being assisted by some contract staff rendering ancillary services in the National Assembly to move their belongings into waiting vans.
The Tide reports that less than one third of the legislators in the 9th Assembly are returning to the parliament.
The legislative aides fall into two categories.
In one group are five Statutory Legislative Aides employed by the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) for each of the 465 lawmakers numbering 2,325.
The second category comprises about 4,000 Political and Legislative Aides employed by the National Assembly management for the Presiding Officers.
News
PDP Opobo/Nkoro Hails Fubara On Peace, Projects
Stakeholders of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Opobo/ Nkoro Local Government Area of Rivers State have commended the state Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara for his disposition that has fostered peace in the State.
Rising from an expanded stakeholders meeting last Saturday in Opobo Town, the body in an eight-point communique signed by its Chairman, Hon. Benneth Daminabo, Chairman of Council, Rt. Hon. Enyiada Cookey-Gam and LG party Chairman, Warisenibo Godwin Pepple commended the governor for linking Opobo/Nkoro LGA to the national grid.
In addition, it lauded the effort of the governor in pursuing the 50.15 kilometre Dual Carriage Ring Road, Elelenwo internal road, Aleto-Ebubu-Eteo Road in Eleme and Andoni Road projects.
Despite the distractions, the stakeholders said they were impressed that the governor had equally done projects in health-the unveiling of Prof. Kelsey Harrison Hospital, Agric projects at Tai and Oyigbo and improving welfare of civil servants.
In their words, “members reaffirmed their unalloyed loyalty and implicit confidence in his administration.”
Condemning the unfriendly and discourteous utterances of Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and Tony Okocha in different fora in the State, the forum urged the duo to desist from such action in order not to heat up the polity.
The forum pledged to stand by the governor through, “thick and thin”, the stakeholders acknowledged the contributions of women, who through prayers for the government has impacted positively in the direction and posture of the governor.
Finally, the forum unanimously expressed gratitude to the Simplified Movement and other bodies that have thrown their weight behind the governor to ensure that the administration is stable and successful.
By: Kevin Nengia
News
‘Rivers People Are Now Breathing Fresh Air Under Fubara’
Aformer Caretaker Committee Chairman of Abua/Odual Local Government Council of Rivers State, Hon Elamo Arogu, says under Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the people of the State are now breathing fresh air.
Hon Arogu said Governor Fubara has given Rivers people hope, considering the impactful and people-oriented projects being carried out by his administration.
The former CTC chairman made the assertion during the Simplified Movement’s thanksgiving service and rally held in honour of Rivers State chief executive last Friday in Abua .
Arogu said under Governor Fubara, the Abua/Odual people have the confidence that the dividends of democracy will definitely get to them.
He noted that the Governor has the strong will to change the narrative in Rivers State, being the reason he is receiving massive support across the State.
“The people of Abua/Odual are strongly behind him. Our doors ate open for everyone because there is government in place to attend to the needs of the people. I believe that he will develop Abua/Odual and other Rivers council areas, hence, the massive support. This government is business- oriented and we are ready to encourage him succeed and invest in our land. The issue of a bank; road networks and other necessities of life bordering on development as demanded by the people will be considered by Governor Fubara”, he said.
He called on the opposition to team up with Governor Fubara to build a stronger, united and viable Rivers State.
He maintained that ward nine under his leadership is Simplified.
News
Rivers State University Cooperative Society Elects New Leaders
The United Port Harcourt Peoples Cooperative Investment & Credit Society Limited, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, has elected new leaders to pilot the affairs of the cooperative for the next two years.
They are Pastor Dr. Barine Aeba (President); Dr. Gift N. Nkweke (Vice-President), Dr. Kenneth Chima Adiele (General Secretary), Victor G. Banigo (Assistant General Secretary),
Rose Yeyeda Nwosu (Treasurer), Adaku Nwogu (Financial Secretary) and Stella Ereba (Public Relations Officer).
Inaugurating the new Management Committee after a keenly contested election held recently at the University Amphitheatre, the Director of Cooperatives in Rivers State, Dr. Elizabeth Chidi-Wike, congratulated the seven-member Executive for emerging winners at the election, charging them to uphold the bye laws of the Cooperative Society and hold regular congress meetings.
Dr. Chidi-Wike used the forum to commend the outgone Management Committee for reviving the Cooperative and placing it on an enviable pedestrial.
In her remarks, the Acting Registrar of the University, Mrs. Ibimonia Sotonye Harry applauded Cooperative members for keeping faith with the Cooperative Society, stressing that the goal of the society in helping members save for retirement cannot be over emphasised.
In his valedictory speech, the outgone President, Dr. Mie-Idala Jones Amachree expressed gratitude to God for the successful completion of his four-year tenure, thanking his fellow Management Committee members who gave him the needed support that transformed the Cooperative Society.
In his acceptance address, the President, Pastor (Dr.) Barine Aeba thanked the university management for providing the enabling environment for the peaceful conduct of the election, pledging that he will fulfill all his campaign promises.
A total of 165 Cooperative members participated in the electoral exercise which was conducted by an Electoral Committee led by Engr. (Dr.) Joseph D. Enoch.
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