Nigerian lawmaker representing Abia North Senatorial District, Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu, has urged the Senate not to withhold the allowances of aides to the suspended Kogi lawmaker, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Kalu made the appeal while moving a motion to amend the six-month suspension imposed on Natasha, which included the stoppage of her salary, emoluments, and the closure of her office.
The suspension also affected the aides attached to Natasha, prompting Kalu to argue that they should not be penalized for actions they had no part in. He emphasized that the aides, who are workers, have families to support and depend on their allowances for survival.
“Aides have families. Most of them had come from villages, from towns to live in Abuja. It would be wrong to punish aides that have not committed any offense. They are aides and they should receive their allowances. The aides of Natasha are not Natasha. It would be wrong for this Senate to deprive those aides of collecting their allowances. They are workers. They don’t have any other farm to go to, Mr. President. Because these aides are workers of Senator Natasha. So, I’m moving for amendment of that section that the aides will receive their allowances. Mr. President, I plead with you that these people might be having family in Abuja. They don’t go to any farm. They don’t have any other way of feeding, and I think that this Senate, my colleagues, you must allow the workers of Natasha to have their allowances. I so move, Mr. President,” Kalu said.
The motion was seconded by Delta lawmaker, Sen. Ned Nwoko, who supported the call for fairness. Nwoko maintained that the aides should be allowed to receive their allowances, even if they do not come to the Assembly during the suspension period.
Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended last week by the Senate after being found guilty of breaching the Senate’s rules of engagement. The suspension followed her clash with Senate President Godswill Akpabio last month, which led to accusations of misconduct and disorderly behavior.
