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N21m monthly salary: Disclose running costs or face legal action- SERAP tells NASS leadership
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has asked the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas to disclose the “exact amount of monthly running costs” allotted to members of the National Assembly.
SERAP requested the spending details of any of such running costs as well.
This was contained in a statement dated August 17, 2024, signed by Kolawole Oluwadare, Deputy Director of SERAP.
The group’s demand is coming on the heels of the recent controversy surrounding the salary of Senators.
A former Senator representing Kaduna Central, Senator Shehu Sani, had stated that Senators receive over N13 million monthly, but the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission faulted his claim.
In its statement however, SERAP urged the NASS leadership to “promptly end the alleged practice by the National Assembly of fixing its own salaries, allowances and running costs, in conformity with the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], and the country’s international obligations.”
It also called them “to end the alleged practice of paying running costs into the personal accounts of lawmakers, and to refer the alleged misuse or mismanagement of the running costs to appropriate anticorruption agencies for investigation and prosecution where there is relevant admissible evidence.”
The statement also urged the NASS leadership to “promptly disclose the total amount of running costs that have so far been paid to and received by the lawmakers and to ensure the return of any misused or mismanaged public funds.”
The organisation said: “We are concerned about the practice by the lawmakers of fixing their salaries, allowances, and running costs, as well as the opacity and the spending of millions of naira in running costs by lawmakers.”
It added, “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.”
The letter, read in part: “The provisions of paragraph N, section 32(d) of the Third Schedule to the Nigerian Constitution clearly make it unlawful for the National Assembly to fix its own salaries, allowances and running costs.”
“The allegations that members of the National Assembly 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.”
‘Personal money shall in no circumstances be paid into a government bank account, nor shall any public money be paid into a private bank account.’”
“In the Seventh Schedule to the Nigerian Constitution, members lawmakers commit to strive to ‘preserve the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy contained in the Constitution’, [and to] perform their ‘functions honestly, faithfully’, to act ‘always in the interest of the well-being and prosperity of Nigeria’.”
“Lawmakers also commit ‘preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of Nigeria; and abide by the Code of Conduct contained in the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution.’”
“‘Public function’ means activities in the public interest, not against it. The reports that lawmakers are fixing their own salaries, allowances and running costs amount to private self-interest or self-dealing. It is also detrimental to the public interest.”
“SERAP notes that Section 15(5) of the Nigerian Constitution requires public institutions to abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power. Section 16(2) of the Nigerian Constitution further provides that, ‘the material resources of the nation are harnessed and distributed as best as possible to serve the common good.’”
“According to our information, members of the National Assembly are currently fixing their own salaries, allowances and running costs. The running costs are reportedly paid directly into the personal accounts of members.”
“Senator Kawu Sumaila, representing Kano South Senatorial District, recently disclosed in an interview with BBC Hausa that each Nigerian senator earns at least N21 million monthly in running costs, salaries, and allowances.”
“Mr Sumaila reportedly said, ‘My monthly salary is less than N1 million. After deductions, the figure comes down to a little over N600,000. Given the increase effected, in the Senate, each senator gets N21 million every month as running cost.’”
“According to reports, former President Olusegun Obasanjo recently alleged that the lawmakers fix their own salaries and allowances, contrary to the recommendation of the Revenue Mobilisation Fiscal Allocation Commission (RMAFC).”
The Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) has distanced itself from a platform known as BNBEX and disowned a circular that falsely claims the unit is reviewing transactions of Nigerian users on the platform.
In a statement released on Wednesday and signed by Sani Tukur, Head of the Strategic Communications Department at the NFIU, the agency made it clear that it has no connection with BNBEX, has not validated its operations, and has not initiated or approved any compliance exercise related to the platform.
“The circular was not issued by the NFIU and bears no connection whatsoever to any of the Unit’s current regulatory or compliance initiatives,” the statement read.
The Unit also refuted the existence of any regulation titled “Nigerian Financial Surveillance Regulation,” which was cited in the document circulated by BNBEX. According to the NFIU, no such regulation exists within Nigeria’s legal or financial regulatory framework.
The circular, which was posted on BNBEX’s website, falsely alleged that the NFIU was conducting a compliance review involving all transactions carried out by Nigerians on the platform. The NFIU categorically rejected this claim and described the document as fake and misleading.
The agency further clarified that the logo and insignia used in the controversial document do not belong to the NFIU. It described them as fabricated and cautioned the public against accepting such materials as legitimate.
With regards to location, the NFIU stated that it has no offices in the Central Business District of Abuja or any other area outside of its official headquarters located at No. 1 Monrovia Street, Wuse II, Abuja.
The Unit then urged members of the public to be vigilant and verify information through official NFIU channels to avoid falling victim to scams or disinformation.
“For purposes of clarification or to report suspicious information purporting to be from the NFIU, please contact the Strategic Communications Department at [email protected],” the statement concluded.
The NFIU serves as Nigeria’s central national agency responsible for the receipt and analysis of financial disclosures concerning suspected proceeds of crime and other financial information to combat money laundering, terrorism financing, and related crimes.
This latest development shows the increasing challenges of financial fraud in Nigeria’s digital space and the need for the public to be cautious when dealing with online platforms, especially those making claims involving regulatory agencies and promising mouth-watering returns on investments.
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) said it has airlifted 14,165 pilgrims in five days.
This, the commission said, represents 34.4 per cent of the total pilgrims for this year’s edition.
A statement by Assistant Director, Information and Publication, Fatima Sanda Usara, said the figure is an improvement from last year’s 20.2 per cent of pilgrims with 23 flights transported 9, 788 pilgrims.
She listed the States that have concluded their airlift to include Oyo, Abia, Kogi, and Nasarawa States.
Meanwhile, Ondo and Ekiti States are preparing for their final flights, which will be undertaken as a combined airlift.
The commission said: “Importantly, no flight cancellations have been recorded so far. On the contrary, one of the carriers transporting pilgrims from Niger State arrived in Saudi Arabia earlier than expected as a mark of diligence. The commission commended its staff for their prompt action and being up to task.
“NAHCON attributes the continued success of the airlift operations to the full cooperation from the State Pilgrims’ Boards, and the wisdom in engaging four airlines for this year’s airlift. The air carriers have been doing their best to fulfill the terms of engagement they signed with NAHCON. “Additionally, Saudi Arabian authorities have released full flight schedules to all participating airlines, which further facilitates proper planning and timeliness. All flights are currently landing in Madinah, in line with the agreed plan.”
She said the first set of pilgrims that arrived the Kingdom are now in Makkah to commence their Umrah for those who select Hajj Tumattu’i or Qiran.”
The Federal High Court in Port Harcourt has dismissed three motions on notice by First Bank of Nigeria Limited against General Hydrocarbons Limited (GHL).
Other respondents in the suit numbered FHC/PH/CS/02/2025 are the Cargo of Crude Oil on Board FPSO Tamara Tokoni, Owners/Operators of the FPSO Tamara Tokoni and the Master.
Justice E. A. Obile ruled on an application by First Bank, through its counsel, E. C. Unachukwu.
The judge ordered: “That the application to withdraw Motions on Notice dated and filed 25th March, 2025; dated and filed on 28th March 2025 and dated and filed on 2nd April, 2025 is granted as prayed.
“That the applications are hereby dismissed accordingly.
“That Deputy Chief Registrar/Admiralty Marshall is directed to serve parties who apply for the orders of the court with same, including the instant order.
“That the application for costs is refused.”
The order was made on April 29.
Justice Obile had in March dismissed First Bank’s suit against GHL on the grounds that the court was bereft of the requisite jurisdiction to entertain it.
He upheld the arguments of counsel to GHL, Dr ‘Biodun Layonu (SAN), and GHL’s notice of preliminary objection challenging the court’s jurisdiction to entertain the suit.
It dismissed the entire suit as an abuse of the court process and a breach of the orders of Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa, made on December 12, 2024, in suit FHC/L/CS/1953/2024.
The court held that First Bank conceded in paragraphs 18 and 19 of its counter-affidavit opposing the defendants’ notice of preliminary objection that the order made by Justice Lewis-Allagoa restrained it from enforcing any receivables arising from the facility agreement entered into by the parties.
The court further held that the plaintiff’s attempt to distinguish the instant suit from the one numbered FHC/L/CS/1953/2024 could not stand.
It maintained that every subsequent agreement entered into by the parties was pursuant to the legally enforceable Memorandum of Understanding between GHL and FBN.
The court consequently held that by the instant suit, First Bank approached the court to do the very act that Justice Lewis-Allagoa had restricted it from doing, and as such, the suit was a classic case of abuse of court process, and consequently dismissed the suit.
The court also upheld the argument of GHL that the ex-parte orders of January 9 had lapsed by operation of law.
These are: “An order to arrest and/or attach or lien the entire cargo of crude oil on board the Floating Production Storage and Offloading (“FPSO”) vessel Tamara Tokoni;
“An order directing the officers of the Nigerian Navy, NUPRC, NIMASA, Harbour Master of the Nigeria Ports Authority to render necessary assistance to the Admiralty Marshall of the Court in giving effect to the order of arrest made in (a) above.”
The court held that the orders had lapsed automatically by effluxion of time and consequently set them aside.
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