NASS: Huge allowances, few passed bills

Despite about N120 billion appropriated for the Nigerian National Assembly in the past year, the two chambers of the legislature recorded very meagre achievements, with only few bills passed.

Although the 8th Senate introduced 300 bills in the period under review, only 11 bills were passed. Out of this number, seven were private member bills, representing 2.3 percent, while four were executive bills, representing 1.3 percent.

Also, while the House of Representatives celebrated 85 bills passed through the third reading in the last one year, BDSUNDAY learnt that apart from the 2016 Appropriation Act, only one bill from the House has been signed by the president.

“The only bill I am aware that the president has signed apart from the Appropriation Act is that of the FCT High Court Judges Amendment Act which increases the number of judges from 37 to 75. I have proof that the president has signed,” said Emmanuel Oker-Jev (APC-Benue), chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Rules and Business..

“But I may not be in a position to say which bills have actually been transmitted to him, because when we pass it, it becomes the responsibility of the clerk to transmit such bills to the clerk of the Senate for concurrence and onward transmission to the president for his assent,” he added.

As at last Thursday plenary which marked the last plenary session for the 2015/2016 legislative year, the House received 685 bills which scaled through first reading, out of which 675 bills representing 98 percent were sponsored by members, while 10 were sponsored by the executive arm, including four financial legislations.

According to the bill progression record obtained from the committee, a total of 530 motions were introduced, 63 passed as resolutions, 20 were withdrawn, 446 motions were referred to committees and one motion was deferred.

Legislators’ exact pay has been the subject of a big controversy. While some critics allege that a senator earns as much as N29.8 million yearly, the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), which fixes salaries and allowances for officials of the three arms of government, insists that a senator earns N12,766,320 per annum.

However, a study by the United Kingdom-based Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority and the International Monetary Fund, as reported by The Economist, says a Nigerian legislator earns a basic salary (excluding allowances) of about N29.8 million per annum.

There are currently 103 senators in the 8th Senate, putting the amount spent on the lawmakers at N1,314,930,960 annually.

Although Section 48 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) states that the Senate shall consist of 109 members, six senatorial districts are still vacant because the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is yet to conclude elections in Rivers, Kogi, Anambra and Imo States.

The above quoted report also suggested that the salary of a Nigerian legislator is 116 times more than the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per person, making him the highest paid lawmaker in the world.

However, there are other regular allowances which have been calculated as follows: Motor Vehicle Fuelling and Maintenance, N1,519,800.00; Personal Assistant N506,600.00; Domestic Staff N1,519,800.00; Entertainment N607,920.00; Utilities N607,920.00; Newspapers/Periodicals N303,960.00, Wardrobe N506,600.00; House Maintenance N101,320.00 and Constituency Allowance N5,066,000.00.

Other allowances, which are paid annually or once in four years and when applicable, are: Accommodation N4, 052,800.00, which is paid annually, and furniture allowance N6, 079,200.00 paid once in four years.

Also, there is Duty Tour Allowance, DTA (per night), which is N37,000. Estacode (per night) is $950. Recess Allowance is N202,640.00 and Severance Gratuity, paid after a successful completion of tenure is N6,079,200.00.

The Economist compared the salaries and allowances of Nigeria’s public office holders with those of the developed countries, concluding that Nigeria’s public office holders are the highest paid in the world, followed by Kenya, Ghana and Indonesia in that order.

In April, a civil society organisation – Citizens United for Peace and Stability – staged a four-day rally at the National Assembly over the purchase of 36 exotic cars at the cost of N36.5 million each at the upper chamber.

Civil society organisations have expressed concern that despite receiving huge allowances in these times of economic hardship, the Red Chamber is walking in the infamous path of its predecessors.

In an interview with BDSUNDAY, Clement Nwankwo, executive director, Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), said it was worrisome that high priority bills that would improve the nation’s ranking in the World Bank Ease of Doing Business annual report were not passed.

Nwankwo was among the experts that recommended the passage of 15 high priority bills at the inaugural National Assembly Business Environment Roundtable in February this year.

“It is quite worrying that 12 months into this 8th National Assembly, not one single substantive bill has been passed. What have been passed have been money bills whether it is supplementary budget, substantive budget, MTEF. All of these do not go to the substance of several of the other issues awaiting legislative intervention,” he stated.

By Our Reporters