Itse Sagay, Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), is not relenting in his criticism of legislators and their humongous allowances.
At a reunion symposium organised by the Hallmarks of Labour Foundation in Lagos State, on Thursday, Sagay described the Senate as “a merciless and ruthless organisation” with members, who, just like “locusts”, are only interested in “finishing everything within their environment”.
“They have no mercy, they have no conscience; they simply want to behave like locust just to finish everything within their environment for themselves. That’s totally unacceptable and I’m not going to relent on this thing [criticism],” he said.
“Look at the allowance they take, forget the amount. Why would a whole senator collect money for his wardrobe? Is he naked?
“Does a labourer, who is taking just N18,000 a month, get it? He’s the one who needs the money for wardrobe allowance.
“But these opulent, rich, super-rich people are still collecting from you and me to clothe themselves; they’re collecting money from you and me to buy newspapers; they said they’re suffering hardship by working inside chambers that are fully air-conditioned with luxurious cushions, with people serving them left, right and centre, with food and drinks available.
“If you ask them what is their income they will tell you they’re earning a salary which is taxable, which is very little – about one to two million (Naira) a month.
“They will never talk about those allowances which bring their income into tens of millions. We haven’t come near what senators and House of Representatives people are really taking.
“We are talking about allowances; there are many other secret things that they are taking that have not been exposed.”
Sagay said Abdulmumin Jibrin, “the gentleman who was suspended from the House of Representatives last year… has a huge story to tell of the billions that nobody knows about that they’re collecting”.
He insists that “there will be no rest until there is justice”.
Last week, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, criticised Sagay for his earlier comments against legislators.
He described Sagay as a “senile, outdated professor of law” who talks like a man who is constantly under the influence of some substance.
“This man talks like a man who is constantly under the influence of some substance and perhaps possessed as he employs the language of a tout with no civility,” Sabi said.
“He is probably constantly excited and incensed by the fact of having his first opportunity to find himself in the corridors of power.”