Nigeria’s Federal Legislators’ Bloated Remuneration and Implications for Public Policy and Good Governance

Abstract

This paper is a descriptive type. The study employs secondary data that was sourced from journal articles, online materials, government documentaries, and dailies to examine the huge salaries and other allowances “earned” by members of the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The study is against the background of the controversies that enormous salaries and allowances of legislators have generated in the country since the return of democratic rule in 29th May; 1999. Despite the biting economic situation, poverty, unemployment and collapsed public infrastructures, members of the National Assembly continue to receive controversial salaries and allowances, and still often clamor for more. This study examines this issue and its implications for the country. The study concludes by proffering policy options which include but are not limited to giving serious thought to the need for part-time legislators who would only be entitled to sitting allowance, a significant reduction in the payments of all political office holders, and reduction of the two chambers of the National Assembly in Nigeria to one house-unicameral legislature, or at worst; reduction in the number of national lawmakers to maintain a cost-effective legislature.