Chuks Oyema-Aziken
A group, StayAlert Humanright Awarness Initiative has condemned calls for the resignation of the president of the Senate, Goodwill Akpabio over a jovial comment, describing it as a distraction.
The group however passed a vote of confidence on Akpabio and members of the 10th National assembly for initiating people oriented legislations.
The executive- director of the group, Ambassador Hilary A. Onah, who stated this while addressing a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, particularly hailed the Senate for their sacrifices in completing ministerial screening and for ensuring that electricity tarrif was not increased.
“We also thank them for sacrificing their time and overworked themselves by sitting on Thursday, Friday, Saturday just to complete the task of screening the ministerial nominees.
“We enjoin all Nigerians to praise the senators for a good work well done.
“Senators should be allowed and encouraged to do their jobs other than subjecting them to unnecessary and selfish criticism aimed at only distracting them from carrying out their legislative duties and also reaping the rewards of their labour.
“We condemn in totality the call for resignation of Senate president, Senator Godswill Akpabio for his jovial comment over senators collecting money for their break. “
According to him Akpabio is known to be a jovial and kind hearted politician that have helped many Nigerians positively to achieve their dreams.
“He had many a time given out his personal monies to make people happy. He did not commit any crime in the announcement he made in the floor of the senate. Paying allowances is an age long tradition in National Assembly.
“The senators have budget, there is nothing wrong in appropriating funds to them, after all civil servants receive imprest even leave allowances.
“Many Nigerians lack knowledge and the way civil service works. The senators are on salaries and other entitlements due to them,” he said.
