Bamidele Reveals Who Fixes Lawmakers’ Salaries

Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, has said members of the National Assembly do not have the power to fix their own salaries and allowances.

Naija News reports that he made the clarification while reacting to a recent court judgment that declared the National Assembly’s spending of ₦110 billion on vehicles and allowances unlawful.

A Federal High Court in Lagos had ruled against the spending of ₦40 billion on 465 vehicles for lawmakers and another ₦70 billion allocated as support allowances for newly elected members.

The court held that the expenditures did not comply with procurement regulations, constitutional provisions and the expectations of the public regarding the use of government funds.

The court also directed Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas to ensure that future spending and procurement activities by the National Assembly strictly follow due process and legal requirements.

Responding to the ruling, Bamidele maintained that lawmakers are not responsible for determining their remuneration packages.

He explained that salaries and allowances for members of the National Assembly are fixed by the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).

According to him, many Nigerians wrongly believe lawmakers decide what they earn because there is limited public understanding of how the remuneration system works.

He said the responsibility for setting salaries and allowances belongs entirely to the commission and not to legislators.

Bamidele also defended the provision of official vehicles and other allowances for lawmakers.

He stated that such resources are mainly meant to help legislators carry out their duties, including constituency engagements and legislative responsibilities, rather than serve as personal benefits.

The Senate leader further called for more openness regarding the salaries and allowances of public office holders.

He said greater transparency would help clear public doubts and give citizens a better understanding of how remuneration packages are determined in government institutions.

He said: “Legislators do not determine their own remunerations. Salaries and allowances are fixed by RMAFC.”