‘We fund constituents’ naming ceremonies,’ Senate Spokesman Opposes Part-Time Legislature.
On Friday, Senate Spokesman Yemi Adaramodu said Nigeria’s democracy would be jeopardised if legislators in the two legislative houses switched from full-time to part-time status.
“If the parliament is on part-time, then it means democracy is on part-time,” he told me. “There is no democracy that derides its parliament and thrives.”
He contended that the parliament is the foundation and fulcrum of democracy, and that no amount of cost-cutting should influence the allocations made to MPs.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) legislator from the Ekiti South Senatorial District stated that, in addition to lawmaking and supervision roles performed by the government, the 109 Senators in the Senate and the 360 members of the House of Representatives bear the responsibility of their people.
He stated, “The Nigerian parliament is responsible for more than just making laws; we also oversee them. We advocate for our constituents.
“It will be perplexing that our people have access to only one of Nigeria’s three branches of government: parliament and legislators. Like me and others.
“We go home virtually every time, and when they have a new kid, they ask for finances for the naming ceremony. When they are building a new house, they turn to us for help.
“So, if the parliament were not present, who do you think our constituents would turn to? Parliament is not just supposed to sit in plenary and pass laws on its own. And when we make laws, we follow them through.”
The Senate spokesman stated that the National Assembly is a soft target for all critics, but he strongly opposed reducing the amount of money provided to MPs.
“If we are on part-time, can’t the same amount of money be paid to part-time legislators?” was his query.
“We are in Abuja; does the National Assembly provide us with housing? Is the National Assembly hiring domestic help for us? We’re here on our own.
“We do not receive allowances for drivers. We always subtract housing allowances from our pay cheques. The housing allowance is granted once every four years, but salary deductions occur on a monthly basis.
He further stated that the official automobiles provided to MPs were not registered in their names and were not for them. He did not, however, say if lawmakers would inherit the automobiles following their service.
In the past, controversy surrounded federal lawmakers’ monthly pay. In August 2024, Shehu Sani, who represented Kaduna Central in the 8th Senate, stated that he received ₦13 million. Current members of the 10th Senate receive ₦21 million every month. The upper chamber of the National Assembly swiftly refuted the notion.