The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged Nigeria’s leading anti-graft agencies to investigate claims that lawmakers pay huge sums to present motions, bills, and petitions at the National Assembly.
This follows a recent revelation by Ibrahim Auro, a member of the House of Representatives, who alleged that “you have to pay from ₦3 million, ₦2 million, or ₦1 million to present [a bill]. And after you present the bill, you must follow up by lobbying the whole 360 members of the House to accept the bill.”
Reacting to the allegation, SERAP, in a letter signed by its Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare, urged both the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to step in and unmask those involved.
The organization also called on Senate President Godswill Akpabio and House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas to immediately refer the matter for investigation, stressing that the integrity of the legislature was at stake.
“The allegations that lawmakers pay bribes to present motions, bills and proposals at the National Assembly are a grave violation of the public trust and constitutional oath of office by lawmakers,” SERAP said.
It added: “Lawmakers should not have to pay bribes to present motions and bills at the National Assembly. Bribery should never have any influence in the exercise of legislative duties or running of the National Assembly.”
SERAP further warned that the credibility of the legislative process was being undermined: “The allegations that lawmakers are paying up to ₦3 million as bribes in exchange for presenting motions and bills make a mockery of lawmaking and legislative powers under section 4 of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended].”
The group gave the leadership of the National Assembly a seven-day ultimatum to act, threatening court action if the issue is ignored.
“Referring the allegations to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for investigation and prosecution would improve public trust in the ability of the leadership of the National Assembly to ensure accountability in the exercise of lawmakers’ constitutional and legislative functions,” it added.
