Bamidele Clarifies Lawmakers' Salaries Set by RMAFC

Senate leader Opeyemi Bamidele clarified that members of the National Assembly do not fix their own salaries, as this responsibility lies with the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC). His comments came in response to a recent ruling by the Federal High Court in Lagos, which declared the National Assembly's N110 billion vehicle allowance scheme unlawful.

The court found that the spending of N40 billion on 465 vehicles and an additional N70 billion for newly elected members breached procurement laws and public trust obligations. Bamidele emphasized that the allowance for official vehicles is intended to support lawmakers in fulfilling their constitutional responsibilities rather than serving personal benefits.

He called for greater transparency regarding the remuneration of public office holders to improve public understanding and address misconceptions about lawmakers' salaries.