The National Assembly Legislative Aides Forum on Thursday accused the management of diverting the N25bn meant for their salary arrears.

The chairman of the forum, Salisu Zuru, told journalists in Abuja that his members would protest on Wednesday.

Reacting, the Clerk to the National Assembly, Amos Ojo, described the allegation as “baseless and unfounded.

Speaking though his spokesman, Austen Adesoro, the clerk said the N25bn in question was approved through virement last December, but N5bn was actually released to the National Assembly management.

He said out of the N5bn released, the National Assembly staff and the National Assembly Service Commission staff were allocated N2.3bn; while legislative aides got N2.7bn.

“This amount regrettably was not enough, considering the large number of legislative aides to offset the total arrears owed,” he said.

He added that the N20bn left for payment of liabilities owed local contractors was still domiciled with the Central Bank of Nigeria. (Daily Trust: Excludes headline)

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