Reps Tackle NLC Over Alleged N100m Palliative For Lawmakers

The House of Representatives, on Wednesday, came hard on the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) for claiming that lawmakers allegedly got N100 million each as palliative from the federal government.

The NLC Assistant General Secretary, Christopher Onyeka, reportedly said the executive arm of government had given N100 million to each member of the National Assembly as palliatives. But, the House in a statement by its spokesperson, Hon. Akin Rotimi, said the NLC claim was baseless and devoid of any factual accuracy.

The statement said: “Transparency and truth in public discourse are necessary for a functioning democracy. While we doubt that Mr. Onyeka was actually conveying the official position of the NLC on this claim, it is nonetheless important to correct such misinformation.

“First, we state categorically that Mr. Onyeka lied in his claim that National Assembly members were given N100m as palliatives. For the avoidance of doubt, at no time did Members of the House of Representatives receive any money from the Executive arm as palliatives. We, therefore, consider this statement as malicious, irresponsible and in bad faith.

“We consider it irresponsible and most unfortunate that Mr. Onyeka would misrepresent facts in a bid to lend credence to otherwise valid demands of the NLC, while seeking to denigrate the National Assembly, and inciting the public against the institution.