NLC to NASS: Explain ‘astronomical’ budget increase

The Nigeria Labour Congress  on Thursday asked the leadership of the National Assembly to tell Nigerians how its annual budget jumped from N23.347 billion in 2003 to N154.2 billion in 2015.

The apex labour body also said the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) should explain to Nigerians how it fixed the salaries and allowances of “certain political, public and judicial office holders” numbering 17,474 at N1.126 trillion annually.

The President of NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, stated this when the leadership of the congress visited the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, in Abuja.

Wabba said the congress is concerned about the lack of openness and transparency in the budget of the National Assembly.

He noted that Nigerians are concerned and wants explanations on how the National Assembly budget, which in 2003 was N23.347 billion, rose to N66.488 billion in 2007, and then climbed to N104.825 billion in 2008.

He added that under the watch of former Senate President, David Mark, the budget of the National Assembly reached an all time record high of N154.2 billion.

The NLC chief said information available to the congress revealed that as far back as 2009, the RMAFC put the salaries and allowances of “certain political, public and judicial office holders numbering 17,474 at N1.126 trillion annually.

The implication, he said, shows that the earnings of political office holders were such a big drain on the country’s revenue and were clearly unsustainable