The senate has reacted to a recent claim by Cairo Ojougboh, executive director of projects at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) that the lawmakers were paid N20 million each as COVID-19 palliative allowance.
Speaking through its spokesman, Ajibola Basiru, the senators dismissed Ojougboh’s claims as lacking in substance.
Ojougboh had told reporters this past weekend that senators and members of the house of representatives got N20 million and N15 million respectively as COVID-19 relief.
“In the national assembly, each of the senators got N20 million, while the house of representatives members got N15 million for COVID-19 from the national assembly,” the director had said.
But in a statement on Tuesday, Basiru said Ojougboh should provide evidence to back up his claim or retract it.
“The senate views with grave concern a statement credited to Dr Cairo Ojougboh, the Executive Director, Projects of the NDDC who alleged that National Assembly members received varying sums of money as COVID – 19 palliative. The senate hereby disclaims the allegation in its entirety,” he said.
“The Senate categorically denies that any Senator collected the sum of N20 million or any sum whatsoever from NDDC as COVID-19 relief fund for any purpose whatsoever.
“The Senate challenges Dr Ojougboh to publicly provide evidence of his claim and list the names of the Senators he allegedly gave the alleged sum. Failure to provide evidence of his claim, the Senate hereby demands immediate retraction and public apology from Dr Cairo Ojougboh.”
