A bill to boost the allowance for corps members has been stalled

The House of Representatives has failed to achieve an agreement on a plan that would boost members’ transportation and lodging allowances.

After a lengthy debate, MPs voted to withdraw the bill introduced by Eta Ebora during plenary on Tuesday.

The measure proposes raising the N150 transportation allowance to N20,000 and the N200 lodging allowance to N15,000.

The present Act requires sites 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, indicated that the law was meant to bring things up to date.

Members of the House, however, were divided on another provision in one of the merged measures, which called for the NYSC scheme to be voluntary.

Some members, including the Deputy Speaker, Idris Wase, the Chief Whip, Mohammed Monguno, Leke Abejide, and others, were opposed to making it optional.

To rescue 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.