Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has criticized the National Assembly for allocating N70 billion as palliatives for its members, describing the move as illegal and contemptuous. The allocation, which includes N40 billion for the purchase of luxury vehicles for officials and members, has drawn widespread criticism for its insensitivity during a period of economic hardship for many Nigerians.
Falana highlighted the violation of relevant provisions of the Nigerian Constitution and called for an immediate reversal of these measures. He pointed out that the allocation contradicts Section 70 of the Constitution, which outlines the appropriate remuneration and allowances for National Assembly members. He referenced recent court judgments that have ruled against excessive allowances for lawmakers.
Citing a judgment by Judge Professor Chuka Obiozor in Monday Ubani & Anor. v Attorney-General of the federation & Ors, Falana emphasized that the National Assembly Service Commission does not have the power to determine members’ remuneration and allowances. He criticized the failure of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission to review and cut salaries and allowances in light of the country’s extreme poverty and the inability of some state governments to pay salaries and pensions.
Falana called on the National Assembly leadership and members to reverse the controversial allowances and halt the purchase of luxury vehicles.
He said, “Out of sheer insensitivity coupled with impunity, the members of the National Assembly, regardless of political affiliation, conspired to breach the relevant provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 by padding the Supplementary Appropriation Bill, 2023 to provide the so-called palliative of N70 billion for 306 newly elected members.
“While the masses of Nigeria are groaning under the excruciating economic pains unleashed on them by the ruling class, the National Assembly has awarded N228.7 million to each of the newly elected legislators. As if that is not enough, the members of the National Assembly have earmarked N40 billion to purchase 465 Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) and bulletproof cars for principal officials and members. However, the legislators approved the sum of N500 billion for 12 million indigent people in a country where the National Bureau of Statistics has said that “62.9 per cent of people (133 million) are multidimensionally poor.”
