By Rabiu Musa, Abuja
In a strong terms and vehement stand the Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana has accused the National Assembly of contempt and illegality over the revelation that Nigerian Senators are receiving a monthly “running cost” of ₦21 million.
It was reportedly disclosed by Senator Abdurrahman Kawu Sumaila of Kano State that he receives ₦21 million every month as a serving Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
In a swift reaction , Femi Falana threatened legal actions if the payments are not halted.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria made this known in a press statement issued and made available to Journalists.
The human rights activist condemned the National Assembly’s decision to increase the monthly allowances of Senators from ₦14 million to ₦21 million, describing the move as “illegal and contemptuous.
It reads in part: “A 2021 Federal High Court ruling by Justice Chuka Obiozor which stated that only the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation, and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) is authorised to determine the salaries and allowances of federal legislators.”
Adding, “The Senate, the House of Representatives, and the National Assembly Service Commission have no power, close or semblance of power, and cannot determine, direct, command, and/or instruct the RMAFC or any person howsoever to make, determine, and/or fix the salaries, wages, remuneration, running cost, or allowances of the National Assembly.” Falana asserted, quoting the court judgment.
He continued, “Despite the court order, the current leadership of the National Assembly disregarded the ruling by further inflating Senators’ running costs this is not only illegal but a blatant contempt of court.”
He posited, “In utter contempt of the orders of the Federal High Court, the current leadership of the National Assembly increased the salaries and allowances of a Senator from ₦14 million to ₦21 million per month.”
However, he x- rayed the inconsistencies between the 2024 Appropriation Act and the alleged payments, adding, “there is no provision whatsoever for monthly payment of ₦21 million running costs to every Senator.”
His words: “Since the running cost was not fixed by the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, it is unconstitutional and contemptuous of the valid and subsisting order of the Federal High Court.”
The statement also recalled the contrast between the legislators’ jumbo pay and the newly enacted Minimum Wage Act, which sets the minimum wage for workers at ₦70,000.
Falana frowned, “Having just enacted the Minimum Wage Act that stipulates N70,000 for workers, the jumbo emolument of N21 million for federal legislators will compound the crisis of inequality in the country.”
Thus, he called on the National Assembly to immediately comply with the court’s ruling and adjust the Senators’ remuneration to reflect the country’s economic realities.
“The lawmakers should comply with the law of the land. Otherwise, we shall soon embark on contempt proceedings as the legislators are not above the law of the land.”
