The Nigerian Senate Majority Leader, Senator Ali Ndume, has stated that the late payment of lawmakers’ monthly allowances is because the National Assembly is as broke as the nation itself.

Ndume, speaking to newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday, said: “I know that the whole country is in financial difficulty, not only National Assembly. I have been in the National Assembly since 2003, but things keep getting worse.

“I think they paid us last month’s salary on the 16th of this month or thereabouts. It is not only with the National Assembly. Some states have not been able to pay salaries for six months, one year.

“Some states were even asking their workers to go and farm for two days and work for the other three days in a week.”

Ndume further noted that owing to the general financial constraints, the Presidency has tightened its belt.

“We used to receive running costs or allowances quarterly but now it is monthly and it doesn’t come as at when due,” he added.

•Photo shows National Assembly Complex

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