Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has condemned the National Assembly over the revelation that Nigerian Senators are receiving a monthly “running cost” of ₦21 million.
This came to light when Senator Abdurrahman Kawu Sumaila of Kano State disclosed that he receives ₦21 million every month.
In response, Falana threatened legal action if the payments are not halted, describing the move as “illegal and contemptuous.”
He cited a 2021 Federal High Court ruling by Justice Chuka Obiozor, which clearly stated that only the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation, and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has the authority to determine the salaries and allowances of federal legislators.
Falana emphasized that the National Assembly’s decision to increase Senators’ allowances from ₦14 million to ₦21 million per month blatantly disregards this court ruling.
Falana also pointed out that the 2024 Appropriation Act does not provide for the payment of ₦21 million running costs to each Senator, making the payments unconstitutional.
He further highlighted the disparity between the legislators’ pay and the minimum wage of ₦70,000 recently set by the Minimum Wage Act, warning that such inequality could exacerbate social tensions in the country.
He called on the National Assembly to immediately comply with the court’s ruling and adjust the Senators’ remuneration to reflect Nigeria’s economic realities, stating that if they fail to do so, he would initiate contempt proceedings against them.