Human Rights Activist and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has stated that the N21 million allocated to federal legislators will exacerbate the crisis of inequality in the country.
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In a statement issued yesterday, Falana stressed that lawmakers must comply with the law, warning that contempt proceedings could be initiated as legislators are not above the law.
He pointed out that there is no provision for the monthly payment of N21 million in running costs to each senator in the 2024 Appropriation Act.
Falana noted that the National Assembly allocated N370 billion for running costs and contingencies in the 2024 budget.
“Having just enacted the Minimum Wage Act, which sets N70,000 for workers, the N21 million monthly payment to federal legislators will deepen the inequality crisis,” he said.
He added that since the running cost was not set by the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation, and Fiscal Commission, it is unconstitutional and in contempt of a Federal High Court order.
Falana referenced a 2018 disclosure by Senator Shehu Sani that each senator received N13.5 million monthly as running costs. This led to legal challenges questioning the legality of such payments.
In 2021, a Federal High Court ruled that only the RMAFC could determine the salaries and allowances of legislators. Despite this, the National Assembly increased the monthly payment to N21 million per senator, which Falana criticized as illegal.
He further dismissed the claim that the N21 million is merely “running costs,” calling it a deceptive attempt to mislead the public.
He urged compliance with the law, emphasizing that the National Assembly’s actions are unconstitutional.
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