PHOTONEWS: #OurNASS- Youth Coalition In Abuja Protest Against Humongous Allowances To Lawmakers, Prolonged ASUU Strike And Extra-judicial Killing of 10 Squatters

A coalition of youth and non-governmental organizations under the aegis of Conscience Nigeria protesting of over prolong ASUU strike, slaughter often   squatters in Apo Village, lack of transparency in the National Assembly regarding salaries, allowance and constituency allowances .
The protest tagged #OurNASS protest has taken place in several cities around Nigeria today.
Background  To Today's #OurNASS Protest to the National Assembly
"If our people lose the courage to confront what is wrong then we become collaborators."
- Jerry Rawlings
"It does not require a majority to Prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brush fires in people's minds."
- Samuel Adams
Objective:
Raise awareness about the disconnect between legislators and Nigerians and freedom of information requests to mark the International Right to Know Day (September 28).
469 men & women represent 170 million Nigerians.
Date: Thursday, September 26
Venue: National Assembly, Abuja
Similar protests to state assemblies in Lagos, Ilorin and Benin. More might be added.
Demands:
Peaceful march to the National Assembly with five demands, which are:

1. Immediate disaggregation of the National Assembly’s 2013 allocation of N150 billion.

Most Nigerians believe the entirety of the allocation goes to salaries for 469 people. Various members of NASS have publicly stated that this is false though some have also anonymously stated that they are overpaid.

SENATOR
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE MEMBER
Estimated salary per year
N400 million
N300 million
Estimated salary per  month
N33.3 million
N25 million
Salary per month from RMAFC*
N1.42 million
N1.25 million
*Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) 2009 Report
The Economist magazine recently released a study showing that Nigerian parliamentarians are the highest paid in the world relative to GDP.

In a country where 71.5% of the population live under the poverty line (N300), their allowances are obscene.

• HARDSHIP
• Constituency
• Furniture
• Newspaper
• Wardrobe
• Recess
• Leave
• Severance Gratuity

• Accommodation
• Utilities
• Domestic Staff
• Entertainment
• Personal Assistant
• Motor Vehicle
• Vehicle Maintenance
• Duty Tour

The last disaggregated budget was in 2010 and it included some atrocious expenses. A summary table is below.
LINE ITEM

1.  

Security Vote for Senate
N1.259 billion
Refreshments & Meals
N1.156 billion
Senate Admin
N2.289 billion
Programmed Activities
N9 billion
Total Goods & Non-Personal Services – General
N31.742 billion

1. An account of income and expenditure of the over N1 trillion the National Assembly has been allocated since 2005.

There is a subsisting court judgement on this issue and our representatives in the National Assembly owe it those they represent to give an account of their use of our common wealth.

1. Make available functional email addresses, phone numbers and constituency office addresses for all members of the National Assembly.

Nigerian citizens should be able to reach their representatives.

1. ALL voting records on ALL the constitutional amendments made public.

Aside from the voting record on Section 29 4(b), none of the other records have been made public. For all Nigerians who are engaged in this review process, we deserve to know if our representatives voted in line with our wishes.

1. Attendance list for each plenary made public.

Pictures and videos from both chambers show considerable truancy. Nigerian citizens would like to know when their representatives attend plenaries.
Furthermore, ASUU is on strike to enforce an agreement. The Federal Government is looking for N87 billion. Based on available data, CJET under the Citizens’ Wealth Platform estimates that the National Assembly can operate with N25 billion per year. So, for the 2014 Budget, the Federal Government will have an extra N125 billion, from which they can honor their agreement with ASUU!
We have every intention to be orderly and peaceful as we ask #OurNASS.
Enough is Enough Nigeria (EiE Nigeria), Youth Initiative for Advocacy Growth & Advancement (YIAGA), Reclaim Naija (Community Life Project), Nigerian Women’s Trust Fund,  Say No Campaign
Freedom of Information Coalition, Beacons, SleevesUp, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Centre for Policy Advocacy and Leadership Development, Youth Alliance on Constitution & Electoral Reform, United Action for Democracy, National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Original Inhabitants Descendants Association of Abuja (OIDA).

Saharareporters