• Lawmakers still expecting their welcome package one month after their inauguration

Federal lawmakers have started discussing with the representatives of various banks operating within the National Assembly on how to secure loans to meet their accommodation challenges pending the payment of their welcome package.

Investigations by SUNDAY PUNCH on Saturday revealed that members of the 9th National Assembly were still expecting their welcome package about one month after their inauguration.

The money, which has been conservatively put at between N65m and N70m for each lawmaker, is meant for their accommodation, personal vehicles, quarterly allowances and others for furniture and wardrobe.

A senator from the South-South geopolitical zone told our correspondent on condition of anonymity on Friday that he had approached the banks because he was tired of sleeping in hotels.

He said, “Part of my plans pending the payment of our allowances is to secure a loan facility that I could use to buy land and pay one-year rent within the Abuja city centre.

“I know that before the expiration of my one-year rent, I would be able to supervise the construction of my own building project. I hope to repay the loan whenever our allowances are paid.

“I actually got the idea from a discussion with some of my colleagues who have started the process.”

Attempts to get the official reaction of the Chairman, Senate Ad hoc Committee on Media and Publicity, Senator Adedayo Adeyeye, failed on Saturday as his phones did not connect when our correspondent called his mobile lines.

He had also yet to reply the text message sent to him as of the time of filing this report.

However, a principal officer of the Senate who spoke on condition of anonymity said there was no law forbidding any Nigerian from seeking loans.

He said, “Taking loans is a personal issue and it is legal. There is no law that stops anybody from taking loans.”

But a member of the Senate ad hoc committee on welfare told our correspondent on Saturday that necessary arrangements had been perfected to ensure payment of the lawmakers’ welcome package latest by this week.

He, however, explained that the amount would not be up to N70m as reported in the media.

The ranking senator said, “We have concluded all arrangements with the management for the disbursement of the money which is necessary for us to settle down.

“Many of our colleagues are still living in hotels since they arrived in Abuja incurring huge bills.”

Credit: The Punch