Senator Kingibe Debunks Receiving Prayers

The sole lawmaker representing the Federal Capital Territory in the red chamber, Senator Ireti Kingibe has said she did not receive any allowances that were out of the ordinary.

She stated this during her appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today while reacting to a statement by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio that “prayers” had been sent to the lawmakers as they embark on a recess. 

 “To enable all of us to enjoy our holidays, a token has been sent to our various accounts by the Clerk of the National Assembly,” Akpabio told the senators before withdrawing the statement, describing the supposed disbursement as “prayers” sent to their “mailboxes”.

Kingibe, who responded to this said, “No, actually, I didn’t receive any prayers, but I’ll check my email for the prayers,” the Labour Party member said humorously, adding that she did not know for sure what Akpabio was talking about. 

She acknowledged that “most people” believed that the politicians may have received allowances, but she clarified that these payments may just be “statutory things that we would have been paid anyway.”

“I don’t think it was anything extra that we’re supposed to be given. I certainly haven’t seen anything extra,” Kingibe said.

When questioned about the exorbitant expense of governance, especially on the side of senators, who are frequently criticized for receiving some of the highest salaries in the world, the opposition legislator acknowledged that there was little she could do to change the situation.

“I have a constituency office; I also have a development office where I do development programmes for the people, and hopefully, anything extra, I will put in any allowances,” Kingibe said.

“Obviously, I’m new (and) we’ve been paid very little. But as they come in, a lot of it will go towards funding that office, the development programmes.”