Sergius Ogun, a former member of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, has revealed that each lawmaker gets N8.5 million every month as running costs. He disclosed this during an interview on Arise TV while reacting to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo’s criticism of the National Assembly.
Ogun explained that this money is not part of their salary but is meant for expenses like maintaining constituency offices and traveling. He said lawmakers earn about N600,000 as salary, but the running cost is allocated for their work and must be accounted for every month.
He noted that when the money is paid, lawmakers face heavy pressure from people in their constituencies asking for financial help with things like rent, school fees, and other personal needs. Ogun argued that if local governments and governors were doing their jobs by providing basic services like healthcare and education, these demands would reduce.
He also mentioned that when lawmakers go on foreign trips or official assignments, the costs are covered separately by the National Assembly. Ogun suggested that improving local government efficiency could ease the burden on lawmakers, making it possible for them to live on just their salaries.
