The Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Speaker of House of Representative, Mr. Wole Oladimeji has confirmed that National Assembly Management is responsible for non-payment of the Duty Tour Allowances to security details attached to his principal and not Hon. Lasun Yusuff.
OSUN DEFENDER had reported that the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Lasun Yusuff owed DTA allowances of his security aides amounting to N15, 360,000, as those incurred during his governorship ambition consultation where 32 officers comprising of men of the Nigerian Police Force and Department of State Services DSS were drafted for the assignment.
A statement by Mr. Oladimeji late on Thursday, stated that the National Assembly was responsible for the payment of monthly allocations of the principal officers including allowances of the security details attached to them.
Oladimeji said, “Nonpayment of Duty Tour Allowances for security officers attached to the Deputy Speaker is not only limited to the security officers but rather it is an experience which Legislative Aides are also bearing’
Oladimeji in his reaction however alleged that the story is malicious to his principal.
He said, “It is the National Assembly that pays Duty Tour Allowances and monthly allocations of the principal officers, Honorable members, Legislative Aides and Security officers of the National Assembly.
“Within the last one year or so the National Assembly has not been able to regularly pay the DTA of its officials including the Legislative Aides and security officers of the National Assembly. This is receiving a serious attention from the management of the National Assembly.
“Therefore non-payment of DTA for security officers attached to the Deputy Speaker is not only limited to the security officers but rather it is an experience which Legislative Aides are also bearing. Non-payment of DTA does not have anything to do with governorship consultation of Rt. Hon Lasun Yussuff.
“Moreso that his security attachments are engaged 24 hours daily and everywhere he goes he is not detached of his security. This is a part of the benefits associated to his office as Deputy Speaker and National Assembly bears the responsibility.
“Whenever the Deputy Speaker is out of Abuja, his security attachments are lodged in suitable hotels where they are accommodated and cared for. To the best of my knowledge there has been no question so far raised about the welfare of the security aides attached to the Deputy Speaker”, he concluded.
Investigations by OSUN DEFENDER revealed that the National Assembly actually pays the allowances but this is made to the account of the principal officers for onward disbursement to the concerned aides.
It was learnt that it is only Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives that is caught in the act of not paying as at when due even when the NASS has released the allocations.
Sources within the National Assembly informed OSUN DEFENDER that there has been uneasy calm within the federal lawmaker’s camp as some men of the DSS are willing to address the press on the issue.
