Senator Sani Explains Why He Disclosed Senators' N 13.5million Monthly 'Running Cost' | CNR

Senator Shehu Sani (APC-Kaduna Central), who recently caused stir in the public domain when he revealed that senators receive N 13.5 million as monthly 'running cost' has given reasons for his action.

Mr. Sani said in an interview with BBC that he decided to take the action because the issue of running cost which is not part of senators monthly salaries and allowances, is a moral issue.

"I decided to burst it open. It was a moral issue", Sani said.

He said that the National Assembly is being run with little accountability about how the money is spent.

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He called for scrapping of the illegal running cost so that the legislative arm of government will be attractive only to people who can contribute ideas.

"If the expenses payment was ended then Parliament would only be attractive to people who can contribute ideas.

"The National Assembly is one of the most non-transparent organs of government. It pricked my conscience and I decided to burst the bubble and open the National Assembly to public scrutiny", Sani told BBC.

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Mr. Sani had in an interview with TheNews revealed that he and his colleagues receive N 13.5 million monthly as 'running cost' apart from N 750, 000 monthly consolidated salaries and allowances which they also receive.

Sani's revelation has generated public outcry over the undue allowances being collected by members of the National Assembly but which, until Mr. Sani's revelation, has remained a guided secret.

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The Senate, through its spokesperson, Aliyu Abdullahi, yesterday confirmed Mr. Sani's claim, but added that the revelation by their colleague is 'nothing new'.