House okays N38.8bn jumbo allowance for members

•Each Rep now on N27m per quarter

The quarterly allowance of members of the House of Representatives has hit the N27million mark.
It used to be N15million per Representative

This translates to an 80% increase and an additional N9.720billion strain on public purse every quarter or N38.88billion per year.

The House leadership had been under severe pressure from members to review the allowance meant for running their oversight functions.

The leadership was said to have succumbed to the pressure with a view to insulating members from temptation from the Ministries, Departments and Agencies(MDAs) in the course of performing their oversight functions.

The quarterly allowance is just one of the several enjoyed by the Reps and Senators.
Other benefits and allowances, as approved by the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) are salaries, vehicle maintenance and fuelling, Personal Assistant, house maintenance, entertainment, utilities, constituency allowance, hardship allowance, vehicle loan, duty tour and estacode (where applicable).

Only last year, the House requested Camry cars for the oversight functions of its 360 members costing a total of N2.5billion.
The increase in the quarterly allowance of the Reps is bound to raise questions following the recent decision by President Goodluck Jonathan to cut the emolument of public officers.
It was gathered that the Reps launched their bid for the secret increase in the aftermath of the belt tightening measures put in place by the Speaker of the House Aminu Tambuwal.

At an executive session last month the Reps had queried why their predecessors in the sixth National Assembly earned N42 million per quarter as against the N15million they were receiving.
Some of them were also alleged to have asked the Speaker why Senators are on about N45 million quarterly allowance.

They said they could not understand what was described as “the yawning gap” between House quarterly allowance and Senate’s.
A reliable source said: “Members actually wanted a reversion to the old rate of N42 million per quarter but Tambuwal rejected the move in view of the financial challenges facing the House.

“The Speaker also claimed that the leadership would prefer a low rate allowance in line with its ongoing reforms.

“After a stormy session, the House leadership sensed that a revolt was in the offing and it had to go back to the drawing board.
“After consultations, Tambuwal announced an increase of N12million in the quarterly allowance of members. So, they will now earn N27million per quarter.

“If Tambuwal had not increased the quarterly allowance, I doubt if he would still be in office by now.
“Also, the House leadership decided to bow to members’ demand to insulate them from being influenced by MDAs during oversight functions. We do not want members to function at the mercy of MDAs, we felt we should avoid recourse to bribery.

It was however gathered that the increase was effected secretly to avoid backlash from the public.
“We did not make noise about the increase because of perception. Our quarterly allowance is short of what the Sixth House of Representatives got but before you know it, we will be the butt of attack.

“Nigerians do not pay attention to the allowances of the Executive and the Judiciary. Out of the N4.8billion budget passed on Thursday, the National Assembly’s share is about N150 to N200billion. What fraction of the budget is that? Yet, we are always the sacrificial lambs,” the source added.

Investigation showed that the payment of the additional N12million quarterly allowance was effected last week by the House leadership.
A member of the House said: “Yes, we have started receiving the increase, it is left to us to use it judiciously because we have a busy calendar.”
It could not be ascertained at press time whether the House leadership put the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) into confidence on the increase in the allowances.

http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index.php/news/40171-house-okays-n38-8bn-jumbo-allowance-for-members.html

Lord Have mercy! It's really getting worse. These guys are gang-violating the country.

What happened to the ACN and CPC members of the house that some idiats claimed are saint they didnt oppose the looting. Going on in the assembly ALL politicians are the same forget the party name and logo. going

karl max: What happened to the ACN and CPC members of the house that some idiats claimed are saint they didnt oppose the looting. Going on in the assembly ALL politicians are the same forget the party name and logo. going

Don't mind those ACN apologists. ACN politicians are no different from their PDP counterparts.

It is now clear to me that we are going nowhere

karl max: What happened to the ACN and CPC members of the house that some idiats claimed are saint they didnt oppose the looting. Going on in the assembly ALL politicians are the same forget the party name and logo. going

When I call them the worst hypocrites to walk the Earth many get angry. Yet you have loudmouthed mofo's like Aregbesola and the frog-like Tinubu who talk from both their mouths and arses at the same time while claiming to be "progressives."

Almost all politicians are in it to be closer to awuf oil money. Yet, instead of the generality of people who are being cheated to take sensible paths, you find them defending these fools because of ethnic affinity.

Shameful.

Legislators' salary is one of the most dangerous threats to the foundation of our democracy. Any situation where employees think and demand as much money from the company treasure as possible is bound fail.

This translates to an 80% increase and an additional N9.720billion strain on public purse every quarter or N38.88billion per year.

saner countries are drastically cutting cost of government while ours thought it expedient to effect an obscene 80% increase in their income at such perilous times as these. as usual we they look like mumu.

[size=30pt]IDOITS RULED BY FOOLLLLLLLLLLLLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!![/size]

this is not PDP thing; it cuts across all parties, they're all the same opportunistic, callous bunch. Instructively, this same Nation, a known pro-ACN paper, had cause to ask some telling questions some weeks back, when the senate took delivery of SUVs costing a total of about N1.7b.

However, what is more gripping in the odious spending is the silence of members of the opposition parties in the Senate. As a result of their unremarkable silence, we are compelled to inquire whether the opposition parties actually support such legislative profligacy. Even the self- professed opposition parties have not lent the desired vociferous voice against this loathsome procurement. Any opposition party that is worth the name should have barred its members in the Senate from benefitting from such questionable gesture. The fact that no opposition party has come out to stop its members is a contradiction of their publicly professed aversion to bad governance that this procurement amounted to.

http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index.php/editorial/37706-crass-insensitivity.html

#27M for what? For fighting in the house? It is really shameful nd sad. But the irony is that most of us out here lamenting will even demand a further increment shud we get into the house, a doomed nation for you.

1nigeria! Lol

Hmmmm,,it is now clear that subsidy removal was initiated to enrich the politician at the detriment of a common man.No wonder, all of them agreed on the susidy removal in pretence of using it for developmental purpose.

Exactly the ONE GOOD reason why i detest comin to Politics section. Things like these makes me hate [more and more, with passion] the word "Nigeria."

Am outta here!

It is not a curse, Nigeria can never be free from corruption and its damaging effects.

Let all Nigerians realise dat oil wealth is 4 politicians. . . This oil money is just 2 free, we dont do the prospecting, we dont do the mining,we cant even do the refinin but @ d end of the month, shell & co jst give the govt their share. . .

after this increase, what do u expect militants d real owner of d oil money.to do or say? Dis politicians are devils o. 9ja people wat r we waiting for, lets do dis tin d egyptian style. SNG whr una dy? We hav all social media, d hunger 4 change, d bitterness of poverty, d anger of oppression. WHAT IS REMAINING FOR THIS REVOLUTION TO START?

N38.8b is close to 10% of the total budget for just the house of reps. by the time we ad that of the senate, i just wonder how much we will be spending to maintain our legislature.

Pray is this not insanity What for goodness sake is really wrong with this country?? What, WHAT, [size=15pt]WHATTTTTTTTTT!!!!!![/size]

We where so wrong about the previous administration that IBB is Liberal. The House earned lesser during Obj and Yaradua. House okays N38.8bn jumbo allowance for members....Smiles....GEJ will be Nigerians last president.

Onwusonye Ikiskels CEO

Gasland Company International Ltd

#168 Weltheral Road /Anokwu Street Owerri Imo, Nigeria 234

Cells: 08165001154, 08037825102, 07043907001, 081916373119

E-mail:gaslandcompanyltd@yahoo.com

Twitter: Onwusonye Ikiskels @rationeer

[size=30pt]NIGERIA CAN ONLY BECOME A GREAT NATION IF RULED BY SOMEONE PERSON WITH AN "IRON HAND" OR AFTER A FIERCE WAR WHICH IS VERY MUCH ANTICIPATED TO HAPPEN SOON....THIS NATION WILL GO NO WHERE WITH THOSE SURROGATES IN OFFICE[/size]

deandavid: after this increase, what do u expect militants d real owner of d oil money.to do or say? Dis politicians are devils o. 9ja people wat r we waiting for, lets do dis tin d egyptian style. SNG whr una dy? We hav all social media, d hunger 4 change, d bitterness of poverty, d anger of oppression. WHAT IS REMAINING FOR THIS REVOLUTION TO START?

we need a LEADER

Meanwhile, i keep wonderin... So, some people wil stil attend the funeral of those ba$tartds/animals [Rep members], when they die ni? ... God forbid!!!
I'd rather attend the funeral of a 'mouse' that was smashed and crushed to death by a trailer.‏

Chickens n peacocks!

Useless people. because you're not included in the loot. They are shouting revolution,nonsense. Nigerian cannot start a revolution,the people are too hungry, and remember Nigeria is a nation of COWARDS.

This is one of the issues we should be addressing and not who is greater between Awolowo or Ojukwu.

Our current leaders are robbing us blind and careless what we face as a Nation for as long as their pockets keep swelling.

This should not continue.

this country is in need of serious restructuring

The spirit of greed, and selfishness ruling the world that have kept people in bondage of looting as a result of fear of not having enough or becoming poor tomorrow, keeps them perpetually thirsty to keep amassing wealth...the devil @ work.

Its really painful the amount of money being wasted on these guys...where are we going to in this country...God help Us

It is a pity and millions are wallowing in abject poverty

Gawd! Nigeria is 'pinisi'.

@Beaf
Aregbesola and Tinubu are not members of the house. Although I am not saying they are saints, but you try too hard on nairaland to make this two men look bad.
You always ask people to address the issue of the topic but you are doing the exact opposite based on your response to this issue.

[size=18pt]“In 2004, Nigeria’s relative poverty measurement stood at 54.4 per cent but increased to 69 per cent or 112.518 million Nigerians in 2010.’’[/size]

Such achingly grim statistics, but our leaders don't give a damn.

corruption and oppression of the masses has no religion or enthicity.i repeat they keep confusing the masses with unpopular policies while the looting spree continues.those thieves at the helm of affairs will stop at nothing until the poor masses of nigeria are tranformed to corperate beggars(babiyala).nigeria,a rich nation with heartless leaders and cowards at it's citizens pretending to be law abiding while they wallow in abject poverty and penury..i don't get it how a few corrupt officials can hold majority of it's population to ransom.the answer is; no one is ready to pay the price of true freedom so they prefer to live as slaves in their own country..naija be prepare for the worst.is this democracy??

One Nigeria united in corruption.