Femi Falana, a human rights activist, has branded the N110 billion palliative allocation to the National Assembly as unconstitutional and insulting. He demanded that the controversial measures be reversed immediately, citing a clear violation of the relevant provisions of the Constitution.
N70 billion was distributed to newly elected members of the National Assembly, in addition to N40 billion made aside for the purchase of SUVs and bulletproof cars for senior officials and lawmakers.
The activist lawyer condemned the allocation, accusing the National Assembly of being cruel and insensitive in the midst of Nigeria’s economic problems.
Falana emphasized that the distribution violated Section 70 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Constitution of 1999, which specifies the appropriate salaries and allowances for members of the National Assembly.
He stated in a statement, “Palliative of N110 billion for National Assembly members is illegal and contemptuous.”
“Out of sheer insensitivity coupled with impunity, members of the National Assembly, regardless of political affiliation, conspired to breach the relevant provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 by padding the Supplementary Appropriation Bill, 2023 to provide the so-called palliative of N70 billion for 306 newly elected members,” according to the statement.
“While the masses of Nigeria groan under the excruciating economic pains inflicted by the ruling class, the National Assembly has awarded N228.7 million to each newly elected legislator.”
“As if that wasn’t enough, National Assembly members have set aside N40 billion to purchase 465 Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) and bulletproof cars for principal officials and members.” However, legislators granted N500 billion in help for 12 million needy people in a country where the National Bureau of Statistics reports that “62.9 per cent of people (133 million) are multidimensionally poor.”
“The callous and insensitive acts of National Assembly members constitute a gross violation of Section 70 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, which states:
‘A Senate or House of Representatives member shall receive such salary and other allowances as the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission may determine.'”
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