The House of Representatives has failed to reach an agreement on a bill that would increase members’ transportation and lodging allowances.
After a lengthy debate, lawmakers voted to withdraw the bill sponsored by Eta Ebora during plenary on Tuesday.
The bill proposes raising the N150 transportation allowance to N20,000 and the N200 lodging allowance to N15,000.
The existing Act requires places of primary assignment to pay corps members N150 and N200 for transportation and accommodation, respectively.
Rolland Igbakpa, a Delta State member who led the bill debate, stated that the bill was written to bring things up to date.
Members of the House, however, were divided on another provision in one of the consolidated bills, which called for the NYSC scheme to be optional.
Some lawmakers, including the Deputy Speaker, Idris Wase, the Chief Whip, Mohammed Monguno, Leke Abejide, and others, were opposed to making it optional.
To save the bill, Femi Gbajabiamila, the Speaker, moved that it be stepped down and unbundled.
As a result, the bill was stepped down by House leave.
