₦airaland Forum

A member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ibrahim Usman Auyo, representing Hadejia, Auyo, and Kafin Hausa Federal Constituency of Jigawa State, has alleged that federal lawmakers are required to pay between ₦1 million and ₦3 million before being allowed to present motions, bills, or petitions during plenary sessions.

Auyo, popularly known as ‘Kamfani,’ made the revelation in a viral video where he spoke in Hausa while reacting to criticism from constituents.

He denied claims that other lawmakers wrote motions out of their people’s needs but insisted that legislative processes at the National Assembly were financially driven.

“Since I went to the Assembly, it's not true that someone wrote a motion for their need or others to be presented before the House. It's all false. And if at all there is, anybody should come out to challenge me,” he said.

“Even the bills and petitions are paid for. You have to pay ₦3 million, ₦2 million, or ₦1 million for it to be read on the floor of the House. After you read the bill, you have to lobby over 360 lawmakers to support that the bill be considered.”

The lawmaker also dismissed accusations that he had neglected youth empowerment in his constituency, insisting that the majority of his projects had directly benefited young people.

“Whoever said the youths were not supported, that person only expressed their personal opinion, as it's not true. Those who benefited know. You are not God, so you cannot satisfy everybody or be just to all. Of course, it is not everybody that will get or benefit from the distribution. I singlehandedly do the distributions. 80% of the distribution goes to the youths,” Auyo stated.

“Talk about the motorcycle, water pumps, and cars I shared, the youths benefited from it. And the moment you distribute these things to them, they sell something you bought at ₦300,000 for ₦120,000 or ₦150,000.”

On how he handles motions and community requests, Auyo said he had a standard process in place.

He explained: “On bills, I have made it a principle that any community or local government that has any motion should sit down and put it into writing.

“They should take it to my legislative aides for onward delivery to me and await to see whether we will act on it or not. If it is something I can address instantly, we do it, and if it is something I will appeal to be placed for the next year appropriation, I will plead that it be done that way.”

Ferebiekunake:
The headline is misleading. There's nowhere he called the amount a 'bribe'. Even the biased headline thoughtfully put the word bribe in quote either for the sake of deniability or to make it look like the actual word used by the man.

It's quite glaring that he didn't mention what the payment is really meant for nor who receives it. Is it expenses incurred in lobbying or statutory charges for sponsoring and presenting bills in the House? The 'accurate' report fails to mention that. Or the reporter forgot to ask clarifying questions on the revelation.