The Senate and the House of Representatives have denied an allegation about legislators receiving N100 million each as palliatives from the Federal Government. This claim was attributed to the National Assistant Secretary General of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Christopher Onyeka.
In a statement by the Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Publicity, Hon. Akin Rotimi on September 13, the House described the allegation as untrue and demanded a retraction and a public apology from the NLC, adding that Members of the House did not at any time receive money as palliatives from the Executive arm of government. The Senate Spokesperson, Senator Yemi Adaramodu described the allegation as an attempt to incite the public against members of the National Assembly.
There have been several allegations of distribution of cash as palliatives to members of the National Assembly since the Tinubu administration announced palliative schemes to cushion the effect of the petrol subsidy removal. The NLC, which has expressed dissatisfaction with some government policies, including the subsidy removal through a protest and warning strike, has also described the palliatives schemes as not being far reaching. While reports of distribution of food items and marginal increase in salaries of civil servants have emerged from some States, efforts to execute more in-depth measures such as provision of CNG-fuelled buses for transportation, grants and credit facilities for businesses, revitalisation of refineries for operation by December 2023 and others, are less apparent.