By Adedapo Adesanya
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on the leadership of the National Assembly, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas to disclose the exact amount of money paid to and received by members of parliament, as well as details of any running costs.
In the letter dated August 17, 2024, signed by the Deputy Director of SERAP, Mr. Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation’s statement said: “We are concerned about the practice of legislators in determining their salaries, allowances and running costs, as well as the lack of transparency and the fact that legislators spend millions of naira on running costs.”
“According to our information, members of the National Assembly are currently fixing their salaries, allowances and running costs. The running costs are reportedly paid directly into the personal accounts of the members,” it said after former President Olusegun Obasanjo recently claimed that MPs had fixed their salaries and allowances contrary to the recommendation of the Revenue Mobilisation Fiscal Allocation Commission (RMAFC).
SERAP also called on them to “immediately end the alleged practice of the National Assembly of setting salaries, allowances and running costs in line with the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 (as amended) and the country’s international obligations.”
The group called on them to “end the alleged practice of transferring running costs to the private accounts of MPs and to report any alleged misuse or mismanagement of running costs to the relevant anti-corruption authorities for investigation and prosecution if there is appropriate admissible evidence.”
Parliament was called upon to “immediately disclose the total amount of running costs paid to or received by Members to date and to ensure the repayment of all misused or mismanaged public funds.”
“We would be grateful if the recommended actions were taken within seven days of receipt and/or publication of this letter. Should we not hear from you by then, SERAP will take all appropriate legal action to compel you and other members of the National Assembly to comply with our request in the public interest,” the statement added.
“Nigerians have the right to scrutinise how their MPs spend their tax money and the public purse. Nigerians also have the right to expect honest and conscientious conduct from their public officials, including MPs.
“The allegations also amount to MPs abusing the public offices entrusted to them. An end to the alleged practice of MPs fixing their salaries, allowances and running costs would strengthen public confidence in the integrity and honesty of the National Assembly.
“It would demonstrate that under your leadership, the Senate and the House of Representatives can focus on the public interest of Nigerians rather than looking out for themselves,” other parts added.
