Home Human Rights SERAP’s Lawsuit Confirms Akpabio, Abbas Unconstitutionally Fix NASS Salaries, Allowances
Human RightsPolitics

SERAP’s Lawsuit Confirms Akpabio, Abbas Unconstitutionally Fix NASS Salaries, Allowances

553
SERAP Lawsuit Against Apkabio, Abbas Confirms Allegation Of Unconstitutional Fixing Of NASS Salaries and Allowances

SERAP, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, has filed a lawsuit seeking an order to direct and compel the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, to stop fixing the renumeration and allowances  of the National Assembly (NASS).

This was disclosed in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1289/2024 filed last Friday at the Federal High Court, Abuja. SERAP also sought redress on NASS’s failure to account for the monthly running costs paid to members.

The suit filed by SERAP lawyers Kolawole Oluwadare, Andrew Nwankwo, and Blessing Ogwuche stated, “Directing and compelling the lawmakers to account for and return any misused or mismanaged running costs they collected would build trust in democratic institutions and strengthen the rule of law.”

The lawsuit confirmed the allegations by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who said the lawmakers determined their salaries and allowances contrary to the recommendation of the Revenue Mobilisation Fiscal Allocation Commission (RMFAC).

READ ALSO: SERAP Sues Tinubu, Fagbemi Over ‘missing’ ₦5.4 Trillion IMF Loan

In the suit, SERAP argued that “The provisions of paragraph N, section 32(d) of the Third Schedule to the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] make it unlawful for the National Assembly to fix its salaries, allowances and running costs.

The constitutional oath of office of lawmakers requires them to ensure transparency and accountability in the exact amounts of salaries, allowances and running costs they receive,” SERAP said.

Amongst many, SERAP also argued, “The allegations that lawmakers are fixing their own salaries, allowances and running costs are entirely inconsistent and incompatible with the constitutional oath of office and the object and purpose of the UN Convention against Corruption to which Nigeria is a state party.”

Meanwhile, the lawsuit also came amidst the ongoing discrepancies in the actual amount lawmakers earn in salaries and allowances, while Nigerians are subjected to unfavourable economic conditions.

About The Author

Written by
Mayowa Durosinmi

M. Durosinmi is a West Africa Weekly investigative reporter covering Politics, Human Rights, Health, and Security in West Africa and the Sahel Region

Related Articles

one-party state in Tinubu's administration
Politics

Nigeria Drifting Toward One-Party State Under Tinubu — A Contradiction of His Own Words

Two years into President Bola Tinubu’s administration, Nigeria appears to be gradually...

Umo Join APC
NewsPolitics

Akwa Ibom Governor Eno Dumps PDP Following West Africa Weekly’s Report

Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has officially dumped the Peoples...

Rotimi Amaechi
NewsPolitics

Nigeria: INEC Blocking New Party Registrations – Rotimi Amaechi

Former Governor of Rivers State and ex-Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has...

NewsPolitics

Cotê D’Ivoire: Thousands Rally in Abidjan as Opposition Demands Electoral Reforms Ahead of October Election

Thousands of opposition supporters gathered in Abidjan on Saturday, May 31, to...