The issue around a sum of N21m that each of the 109 senators receives per month has taken yet another dimension with SERAP asking the Senate President Godswill Akpabio to account for the money of face legal actions.
It was former president Olusegun Obasanjo, who renewed the criticism against the Lawmakers accessing them of fixing their own salary and allowances. The Red Chamber has denied this saying that the RMFAC sets its payments just like other political leaders.
SERAP told the Senate President to “promptly disclose the exact amount of the monthly running costs of millions of naira currently being paid to and received by members of the National Assembly and the spending details of any such running costs”.
SERAP also urged them to “promptly end the alleged practice by the National Assembly of fixing its own salaries, allowances and running costs, in conformity with the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], and the country’s international obligations”.
In the letter dated 17 August 2024 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “We are concerned about the practice by the lawmakers of fixing their salaries, allowances and running costs, and the opacity and in the spending of millions of naira in running costs by lawmakers.
“The constitutional oath of office of lawmakers requires them to ensure transparency and accountability in the exact amounts of salaries, allowances and running costs they receive.”
