The Federal Government will spend about N1.18 billion monthly, as perks to delegates to the ongoing National Conference in Abuja.
President Goodluck Jonathan had on Monday inaugurated the 492-member Conference to discuss some of the issues affecting the unity and development of the country.
The delegates, however, held their first plenary sitting on Tuesday before the Conference was adjourned till Monday.
But authoritative revealed that the Conference secretariat on Saturday disbursed N1.4 million to each of the 492 delegates.
The amount covers delegates’ accommodation, meals, transport and sitting allowances for two weeks.
A delegate, who asked not to be named so as not to be accused of divulging sensitive information to journalists, confirmed to newsmen that he has received an alert from his bank; confirming the payment of the allowance.
He, however, insisted that over N500 has been deducted from what the Federal Government had provided for each of the delegates.
The source said the deduction was made on the excuse that the funds would be used for tea breaks and lunches during the plenary sittings of the Conference.
He said, “We will protest any attempt to deduct anything from what was supposed to be given to us as allowances.
“We will make our feelings known to the secretariat on Monday when we resume for plenary and if they have deducted anything, we will ensure that refunds are made.”
But a senior official in the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation revealed that the leadership of the Conference has not made any deduction from the perks of delegates.
The source, who is not authorized to speak on the matter, however, said that the Federal Government approved what should be paid to each of the delegates, adding that the leadership of the Conference has not acted otherwise.
He said, “The budget was done and handed over to the Conference secretariat and that’s exactly what they are implementing.
“The money paid out covers accommodation, transport, meals and sitting allowances for two weeks. Don’t forget that they are not sitting for seven days in a week. They sit from Mondays to Thursdays and their transport and sitting allowances are calculated to cover those days.”
He noted that the only allowance that the delegates will receive for the entire duration of the Conference is for accommodation.
When contacted, the Assistant Secretary, Media and Communications, Akpandem James, confirmed that delegates have been paid part of their allowances for the month.
Mr. James, however, debunked claims that some deductions were made on the allowances paid to delegates, adding that what has been paid to each of the delegate will be reflected on their pay slips.
It was widely speculated that the Federal Government was going to pay a whooping N4 million as monthly allowances to each to the delegates, and N12 million in 3 months. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Hahaha;no be Nigeria?
ReplyDeleteSeriously, this is complete bullshit and a waste.
ReplyDeleteWhat is d essence of this conference? I can tell the govt d demands of d citizens of Nigeria for free. It's simply eradicate corruption, ensure good governance, create jobs, improve the power, education, housing,health, water, oil, road,aviation sectors, secure the lives of the citizens. And improve d overall welfare of d citizens. Does that require gathering all sorts of people and dashing them money?
ReplyDeleteIf they should provide to the citizens all that you requested what will be leftover for them to steal? Their greed and quest for wealth will “DEFINITELY“ wouldn‘t allowed them to provide just that to the citizens, only a “REAL MAN“ with pride and fear of GOD can actually provide all that you demanded for the citizens not those “HEARTLESS,WICKED AND UNFORTUNATE“ of a humanbeings we had as a leaders presently . It‘s a really pity and unfortunate!!!
ReplyDeleteMoney de Naija sha!!! Kai
ReplyDelete