Reps Deny Bribery Allegation Over 2014 Budget

The House of Representatives yesterday debunked allegations that each member received $100,000 each to peg the benchmark of the 2014 budget at $76.5 per barrel of crude oil.

The benchmark has been a source of contention between the Presidency and the Lower House with the latter insisting on $79 per barrel as against the Senate’s adoption of $76.5 per barrel.

No sooner had the House commenced plenary yesterday than it went into a two-hour executive session to discuss the parameters to adopt on the 2014-2016 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) sent to the National Assembly by President Goodluck Jonathan, particularly the benchmark.

The Nation learnt that while some members were of the opinion that the $79 per barrel which the House insisted on should be maintained, others were said to have...