Senate President Godswill Akpabio has said that many Nigerians believe lawmakers only go to the National Assembly to enrich themselves.
Speaking during plenary on Tuesday, Akpabio noted that there is a widespread perception that the National Assembly is overflowing with money.
He made this known while senators paid tribute to late Caleb Zagi, a former lawmaker who represented Kaduna South from 2007 to 2011 and died on June 25 after a brief illness.
Akpabio said Nigerians are unaware of how things work in the Senate and that many lawmakers struggle financially after leaving office.
The tribute session was prompted by a motion moved by Senator Sunday Katung (Kaduna South). Supporting the motion, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe revealed that Zagi sought financial support from his former colleagues before his death.
“I was very sad when he told us about his illness and asked for contributions. We had to personally contribute for his treatment,” Abaribe said.
He added that Nigerians assume lawmakers spend huge sums, not knowing that once they leave office, they get no benefits.
Reacting to Abaribe’s comment, Akpabio commended him for highlighting the harsh reality.
“I was impressed by your contribution. Nigerians think there is so much money here, but once you leave, you struggle even to treat yourself. It shows the fallacy in those insinuations.
“People think we come here to make money. They don’t know we are sacrificing for the growth of this nation to leave a better country for future generations,” Akpabio said.
