Protesters tell lawmakers to stop stealing Nigeria’s money [PHOTOS]

monjola sotubo

October 5, 2016 12:46 PM

The protesters also urged the lawmakers to stop manipulating the country’s budget for their own selfish gain.

Protesters at National Assembly in Abuja

A group of protesters, under the umbrella of Citizen Action to Take Back Nigeria (CATBN) have urged the

The protesters also urged the lawmakers to stop manipulating the country’s budget for selfish gain.

“Citizens are demanding that senators should stop stealing through the running cost; they should terminate the running cost. They collect this and citizens are dying,” Ibrahim Garba, who spoke on behalf of the group, told The Cable.

“We are suffering because we are cowards in our own country. We are here to take back the national assembly. That is why we are here. We are not for the fun of it but because we are representing Nigerians.

“When you try to manipulate the budget… you put N7.2 billion in your constituency then say it’s lobby. What kind of lobby is that? We are frustrated because students have no classes, teachers don’t have no teaching aides but senators are being paid their allowances. Children are dying in the north east.

“Their convoy alone can build factories. Running cost is ruining our lives. EFCC, ICPC and the police should arrest them, they should consider the citizens, we need children to go back to school,” he added.

The issue of N10 million being used as running cost was raised by former Chairman of the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee, Abdulmumin Jibrin who urged lawmakers to either return the money or be exposed.

“I hereby demand that if you have illegally taken or stolen any money meant for the running cost of your offices for the entire stay in the house, you should return it within one week to the clerk of the national assembly and for the purpose of clarity, I am referring to about N10 million you collect from tax payers monies monthly,” Jibrin said via a statement released on Thursday, September 29.

ALSO READ:Budget padding is not an offence, I won't resign - Dogara

Jibrin has also accused Speaker, Yakubu Dogara and other senior members of the House of budget padding.

He was subsequently suspended by the House for 180 legislative days.

monjola sotubo