Falana: I’ll Collect Confab Allowance And Donate To Charity

Lagos lawyer and human rights activtist, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, has indicated his willingness to collect his share of his allowance from the Federal Government as a delegate to the ongoing National Conference but that the total sum would be donated to charity.

Falana, who commended some of his colleagues, specifically, Pastor Tunde Bakare and Mr. Olisa Agbakogba, SAN, for outrightly rejecting their own allowances, however, explained that he would not follow in their steps but would collect his first, then give to the needy. This, he said, was to prevent a possible diversion of the money.

The National Conference, which is being attended by 492 delegates from across the country representing various groups and interests, was inaugurated on Monday, March 17, 2014 and is expected to last for three months. While there was media speculation that each delegate will be paid N4 million per month, Information Nigeria gathered that the amount might be lower.

One of the delegates – Yadoma Mandara – a youth representative, announced via her Twitter handle that she received her first payment, which is N1, 460, 000 on Friday evening, about four days after the confab was officially declared open by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Falana, while justifying his position to collect the allowance said, “I once rejected rams and rice sent to me for Christmas by a state government but I found out that they were not returned to the sender; they were diverted by those who brought them.

“Since then, I have learnt to collect such gifts and donate them to the poor, who really need them”, he explained.

Falana stated that while a number of groups could sponsor their members; students, the physically-challenged, pensioners, workers and “other economically disadvantaged people” at the confab, needed government support hence such category of delegates will need the allowance.

He added, “Those are the delegates who should be sponsored by the Federal Government. It does not make any economic sense to pay N12m to ex-governors, captains of industries, retired generals and other members of the national bourgeoisie.

“Why pay allowances to those who live in their own houses in Abuja or those who are accommodated in posh hotels by their state governments?

“I am aware that Pastor Tunde Bakare and Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, have announced that they would not take the allowances. That is commendable. I know both of them. They are very comfortable. In my case, I shall collect the allowances and give them to the needy”.

Falana, however, said he would have to consult with his colleagues in the civil society organisations, which he is representing at the confab, on the specific charity to donate his own allowance to.

by Greenstarnetwork admin..