The 109 senators in the National Assembly have not fulfilled their commitment to donate their December 2023 salaries to the victims of the accidental bombing in Kaduna.
The incident, involving troops hunting terrorists, resulted in the loss of over 100 innocent lives in the Tundun Biri community.
Despite pledges from various individuals and officials, including Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, who promised the senators’ collective donation of N109 million, the commitment remains unfulfilled.
The Senate’s spokesman, Yemi Adaramodu, confirmed the delay, attributing it to procedural reasons.
“Any noticeable delay in the delivery of the Senate’s pledge to the victims of the unfortunate Kaduna State incident is merely procedural.
“We pledged December monthly salaries and these would come in January. We are still in January. Whatever commitment the Senate made to the Nigerian people shall be religiously fulfilled,” Adaramodu said.
Among those who pledged donations to the victims were the Northern Caucus of the House of Representatives, which pledged N350m projects for the area and a donation of N45m to the victims. The Northern States Governors Forum also pledged N180m.
The Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, set up a committee, headed by the Deputy Governor, Dr Hadiza Balarabe, to, among others, take “inventory of all the donations made by the Federal Government, National Assembly, Nigeria Governors Forum, Corporate Organisations and well-meaning Nigerians as well as develop a framework for disbursement of the funds and ensure prompt disbursement to actual beneficiaries.”
It was, however, gathered that a number of those who pledged donations, including the senators, have yet to fulfil their pledges.
