Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has issued a warning to the National Assembly regarding the recent disclosure that Nigerian Senators receive a monthly “running cost” allowance of ₦21 million. The increase from the previous ₦14 million has been labeled by Falana as both “illegal and contemptuous.”
Falana referred to a 2021 Federal High Court ruling by Justice Chuka Obiozor, which established that only the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation, and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) is authorized to determine the salaries and allowances of federal legislators. He condemned the National Assembly’s unilateral decision to increase these payments, highlighting it as a clear violation of the court’s ruling.
He also pointed out the discrepancies between these payments and the 2024 Appropriation Act, which makes no provision for such high running costs. Falana stressed that this move worsens economic inequality, particularly after the enactment of the Minimum Wage Act, which sets the minimum wage for workers at ₦70,000.
Falana has threatened to pursue legal action if the National Assembly fails to comply with the court’s decision and adjust the Senators’ remuneration to reflect the country’s legal and economic realities. He emphasized that no legislator is above the law and is prepared to initiate contempt proceedings if necessary.
