Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele has refuted allegations that members of the National Assembly determine their own salaries and allowances, insisting that such remunerations are established by the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).
Bamidele made the clarification while reacting to a recent court judgment that declared the National Assembly’s N110 billion expenditure on vehicles and allowances unlawful.
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Federal High Court in Lagos recently ruled against the legislature’s controversial spending package, which included N40 billion for the procurement of 465 vehicles for lawmakers and N70 billion in support allowances for newly elected members.
The court held that the expenditures violated procurement regulations, constitutional provisions and the principles of accountability in the management of public funds.
It further directed Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, to ensure that future procurement activities and public spending by the National Assembly strictly adhere to due process and legal requirements.
Responding to the ruling, Bamidele defended the allowances provided to lawmakers, stressing that legislators have no authority to decide their own remuneration packages.
According to him, widespread public criticism often stems from a lack of understanding of how the compensation structure for elected officials is determined.
The Senate Leader explained that both salaries and allowances of federal lawmakers are prescribed by the RMAFC, an independent constitutional body mandated to fix the remuneration of public office holders.
“Members of the National Assembly do not determine their own salaries or allowances. These are fixed by the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission,” he stated.
Bamidele also argued that funds allocated for official vehicles and related allowances are primarily intended to enable lawmakers effectively discharge their legislative responsibilities and attend to constituency engagements, rather than serve as personal benefits.
He called for increased openness regarding the remuneration of public officials, saying greater transparency would help dispel misinformation and foster a better understanding among citizens.
According to him, making such information more accessible would strengthen public trust and reduce misconceptions about the financial entitlements of elected representatives.
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