NIGERIA SENATORS: THE EARNINGS, CONSTITUENCY OBLIGATIONS

The Senate is the upper chamber of the Nigeria’s bicameral legislature, the National Assembly (popularly referred to as NASS) is the nation’s highest legislature, whose power is to make laws, is summarized in chapter one, section four of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution. It consists of 109 senators across the 36 states of the federation with each divided in 3 senatorial districts. The term of a senator is to serve a term of four years until a general election. Senators have unlimited tenure and can remain in the chamber for as long as they are re-elected in general elections. This study represents the idea of constituency projects and examines the role of the legislature in that regards in Nigeria.

The central argument is that doubt has been raised regarding the execution of constituency projects and its constitutional status in the country. Moreover, its implementation is marred by misconception and mismanagement. The media used interview method to generate required information and interpretive approach in its analysis. The media contend that ordinarily, the idea of constituency projects should not arise in presidential democracy, however, since the electorate desire projects from their lawmakers, the idea could be used to bring developmental projects to the constituencies. Study also reveals that funding and implementation of these projects are the responsibility of the Executive, the Legislature only designs and selects its locations.

There is a recommendation that since constituency projects are expedient it should have a constitutional basis. What Nigerians to look at is the constitutional provisions of the Nigerian Senate member to his or her senatorial districts where he or she represents which has to be tabled and can include provision and distribution of electricity to each community and local government areas under their senatorial district where the adequate power supply is not circulated, it may be in form of either transformers or solar street light system. Secondly, the rehabilitation of local markets and some rural roads in the area represented and provide agricultural tools for the farmers and soft loans with empowerment for people in area where they represent.

Subsequently, Nigerian senators have turned and limited the empowerment programmes being budgeted for at the upper chamber to the masses in their local government district and only to those that are in their political parties benefits rather than extending it to the whole populace. However, it’s very scary to witness the achievements of some Senators in the area they represent, they earn the monthly funds and turn it to their personal needs rather than to consider the people at their various communities. Channels Television recently aired the monthly earnings of each Nigerian Senators and it shows and signifies the stages and stands of the Senate member in the arms of governance which stated as * Running Cost – N13.1M, * Consolidated Salary – N750,000 (Monthly), * Monthly Package – N13.8 M, * Constituency Project N200M, * Personal Assitant (25% of B.S) – N621,061.37, * Vehincle Main Allowance (75% of BS) – 1,863,184.12, * Motor Vehicle Allowance (400% of B.S) – 9,936,982.00, * Wardrobe Allowance (25% of B.S) -N621,061.37, * Recess Allowance 20% of B.S) – N248,424.55, * Accommodation (200% of B.S) – N4,968,509.00, * Utilities (30% of B.S) – N828,081.83, * Entertainment (30% of B.S) – N828,081.83 with the total sum of N29,479,749 monthly to each Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

To justify this figures, the question to ask is where are we heading to in Nigeria? The sitting senators that are passing bills into law, having regular vacations in their obligations, are earning these substantial funds while the university lectures, medical doctors among other artisans are being owed regular salaries and their monthly earnings cannot withstand the average Senator’s monthly income. There is comparison in the Federal Executive and Judiciary Arms of Government in terms of their regular income. We accept the fact that before you can be appointed as Minister, you must have done some academic and professional degrees while same applies to a judiciary members, but the constitutional right required to be a Nigeria Senator is low beyond measures which allows road side mechanic to be running for the position once they have the financial capacity to attain the position through their political parties. The question begging for answers is, how can Nigerians tackle this great problem caused by the Constitution and our political parties? May God help the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

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