Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, has called on the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC, to publish the full remuneration of all public office holders, including members of the National Assembly, state lawmakers, ministers and other relevant categories of officials.
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Bamidele said the disclosure would end public speculation about the salaries and allowances of lawmakers and promote greater transparency in public service.
Speaking during an interview with journalists in Abuja, the Senate Leader said legislators do not determine or approve their own salaries, stressing that the constitutional responsibility for fixing remuneration rests with the RMAFC.
According to him, the publication of the earnings of elected and appointed public officials would help Nigerians understand the realities of public service and strengthen confidence in democratic institutions.
“All allowances received by parliamentarians, at both the federal and state levels, should be published. Published fully, publicly, and once and for all.
“Legislators do not set their own salaries. Our remuneration is determined by the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission. It is not within our power to fix,” he said.
Bamidele argued that the absence of clear public information on legislative remuneration has created misconceptions about lawmakers and fuelled unrealistic expectations from constituents.
He said many Nigerians wrongly assume that legislators have unlimited access to public funds, whereas lawmakers are often faced with numerous financial demands from constituents without the public knowing their actual earnings.
“The mystery surrounding legislative remuneration breeds assumption, and assumption, in this case, does not favour legislators,” he said.
The Senate Leader also clarified that vehicles allocated to senators and members of the House of Representatives are official working tools and not personal gifts.
“The vehicles allocated to senators and members of the House of Representatives are not personal property. They are official vehicles provided to enable constituency work and legislative duties, no different in principle from official vehicles provided to directors, permanent secretaries and ministers across the executive arm of government,” he stated.
Bamidele insisted that the proposed disclosure should not target only lawmakers but must cover all categories of public office holders.
“My position is clear. The Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission should publish comprehensively what every category of public office holder earns, National Assembly members, state assembly members, ministers and all other relevant categories. That settles the matter permanently,” he added.
He said the National Assembly is often subjected to public criticism because of its constitutional oversight role, noting that lawmakers naturally attract opposition when they scrutinise ministries, departments and agencies of government.
According to him, legislative institutions are rarely popular anywhere in the world because effective oversight can be uncomfortable for those being held accountable.
Bamidele also defended the 10th Senate against claims that it had become a rubber stamp of the executive, saying the National Assembly had worked collaboratively with the executive while maintaining its independence.
He said disagreements with the executive are often resolved through consultations instead of public confrontation.
“The difference between the 10th Assembly and some previous assemblies is that we chose to resolve our disagreements privately rather than perform them publicly,” he said.
He added that several government nominations and policy proposals had been reviewed and, in some cases, returned for corrections before being brought to the Senate floor.
The Senate Leader also highlighted some legislative interventions aimed at easing economic hardship, including the passage of tax reform bills, the establishment of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, NELFUND, and legislation that paved the way for the creation of the Ministry of Livestock.
He said the tax reforms would particularly benefit low-income earners and small businesses by reducing their tax burden.
Reflecting on the performance of the 10th Senate, Bamidele admitted that one of its lowest moments was the period when public attention was dominated by controversies surrounding the suspension of a senator, which he said overshadowed legislative work.
He, however, maintained that the Senate had recorded significant achievements through legislation and oversight, especially in the areas of economic reforms, education, agriculture, health and finance.
Bamidele said transparency in the remuneration of public officers, including lawmakers, remains essential to strengthening public trust and promoting a more informed national conversation on governance.
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