Federal lawmakers get nearly N24b for accommodation across 4 years
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Housing allowances for the 10th National Assembly (NASS) members are expected to cost the treasury about N5.87 billion yearly, adding up to N23.48 billion in the four years of their tenure.
The allowances are based on data collated from the website of the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Allocation Commission (RMFAC).
They cover – accommodation (200 per cent of basic salary), domestic staff (75 per cent of basic salary), utilities (30 per cent of basic salary), house maintenance (five per cent of basic salary), wardrobe (25 per cent of basic salary), and furniture (300 per cent of basic salary).
Furniture allowance is usually paid once in four years for public office holders, but the frequency of payment to federal lawmakers is not disclosed.
Breakdown of housing allowance for Senators
- Senate President and Deputy Senate President – not disclosed
- 107 Senators – N1.38 billion yearly.
- Accommodation – N4.05 million
- Domestic staff – N1.52 million
- Utilities – N607,920
- House maintenance – N101,320
- Wardrobe allowance – N506,600
- Furniture allowance – N6.08 million
Breakdown of housing allowance for House of Reps members
Speaker and Deputy Speaker – not disclosed
Member-elect Isma’ila Maihanchi is dead and former Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila resigned to take up the job of Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu.
Therefore, the amount covers allowances for 356 Reps.
- 356 Reps – N4.49 billion
- Accommodation – N3.97 million
- Domestic staff – N1.48 million
- Utilities – N595,563.75
- House maintenance – N99,260.62
- Wardrobe allowance – N496,303.12
- Furniture allowance – N5.96 million
Since the allocations for the Senate President and his Deputy and the Speaker and his Deputy are not disclosed, it means N5.87 billion is likely below the total amount lawmakers would get as housing allowances yearly.
Rent in the highbrow areas of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have surged by at least 60 per cent due to high demand by new NASS members.
The areas include Maitama, Asokoro, Wuse, and other locations close to the city centre.
An official of a real estate firm, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the rising rent, saying it is natural for prices to increase with more than 900 people looking for apartments at the same time.
“We have over 400 NASS members with over 500 support staff looking for housing accommodation at the same time so automatically the forces of demand and supply have come into play so the cost of housing has jerked up,” the source explained.
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Economic realities
Another estate agent, Bimbo, blamed the economic realities of fuel subsidy removal and high inflation for the outrageous surge in the cost of rent and houses, according to reporting by The PUNCH.
He disclosed some Senators choose short-let apartments pending when they can buy their own houses.
His words: “Prices of houses in posh areas have increased drastically. Houses available for rent now go for N6 million from N3 million before the inauguration. Other smaller places for their aides that were around N800,000 now sell for almost N1.4 million.
“Most of the Senators prefer to buy than rent and this is even more expensive. A house in posh areas will cost not less than N150 million.
“Also, it is not solely because of the arrival of new Senators but due to current economic realities caused by the removal of fuel subsidy. Even with this number, there are still empty houses that are not occupied and the owners will instead leave them to waste than sell them for a lesser amount.
“I have also noticed that some Senators prefer to stay in short-let apartments for the meantime before getting their apartments. For instance, I know someone that paid to stay in an apartment for N1 million per month.”
Housing Development Advocacy Group Executive Director Festus Adebayo welcomed the new development, saying it would drive positive change in the sector.
But he warned it may raise rent beyond what most salary earners cannot afford.
“Abuja is receiving over a thousand new entrants daily. The real estate sector will witness positive development but that means rent will go beyond the affordability of a good number of workers. Most landlords increase rent once the old payment expires,” Adebayo said.
“Government must provide palliatives not only for govt workers but for Nigerian workers in housing.”
