Some senators have complained about the paltriness of the sum of N2 million naira given to them as allowance for last year’s christmas and new year, saying the money was not enough to cater for the expenses they incurred during the yuletide season.

According to a report by PremiumTimes, The lawmakers received the N2 million on December 18 from the Senate overhead and operations account.

According To PremiumTimes, The purpose of the transaction was not attached to the payments, but lawmakers had been notified days earlier to expect the funds as their Christmas allowances, according to three senators who briefed newspaper on the development. The senators spoke under anonymity as of the time they interacted with PREMIUM TIMES to avoid a potential backlash from their colleagues, but one of them said they may eventually go public with their complaints if their frustrations boils over.

Some senators have described the amount — which is only a fraction of a regular plethora of benefits they are entitled — as “a mere drop” in the vast ocean of their Yuletide expenses. Others threatened to cause the Senate leadership “some headache” upon resumption from their Christmas-New Year recess later this month.

“They said we should use the money to take care of our families and constituents,” one senator said. “I was just standing there without knowing what to say for many minutes.”

The senator condemned “the failure” of Senate President Ahmed Lawan to realize the overwhelming responsibilities that usually await them whenever they visit their constituency.

“There are many local government areas under my district,” the senator said. “How do I tell them that I only came back home with N2 million?”

“Even when I am travelling for an event or just to visit my constituency, I usually hold at least N50 million,” the senator added.

Another senator said lawmakers usually received far larger amount in Christmas allowances, wondering why the current assembly that has smooth relationship with the executive now finds itself receiving much less.

“We have been struggling in poverty since we came on board months ago,” the senator said. “I asked my distinguished colleagues why we have to be the one suffering the excesses of past assemblies.”

“We have given this administration every support and people on social media are angry and calling us a rubber stamp Senate,” the senator said.

“We have started gathering ourselves and we will make our position known to the leadership,” the senator said. “Otherwise, we may not have a choice left but to publicly call out the leadership and give them some headache when we resume plenary.”

Two former senators who served in seventh and eight said they received Christmas allowances well over N2 million, but could not recall the specifics.

“We received allowances for Christmas and Sallah holidays during our time in the Seventh Assembly,” a former senator from Ogun State said. “I am struggling to remember how much we received then, but I am very sure each one was far more than N2 million.”

The second former senator confirmed that he received more than N2 million in Christmas bonus, but warned that members of the current assembly should concentrate on their activities rather than complaining over payment.

“The N2 million may look small,” the senator said. “But I will advise them to remember the millions of Nigerians who cannot even earn a fraction of that amount throughout the year.”

The former senators insisted on speaking off the background to avoid offending their serving senators, many of whom they identified as friends and political associates.