“We Earned N8.5 Million Monthly as Running Costs” – Ex-House of Reps Member, Sergius Ogun

Former House of Representatives member, Sergius Ogun, has disclosed that each member of the House received N8.5 million monthly as running costs during his tenure. The revelation was made during an interview on Arise TV, where Ogun discussed various financial aspects of the National Assembly.

Ogun, who represented the Esan North-East/Esan South-East Constituency from 2015 to 2023, shared these details in response to former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s recent criticism of the National Assembly’s financial practices. Obasanjo had criticized the legislature for setting its own salaries and receiving additional fiscal packages from the Presidency.

Addressing the issue, Ogun stated, “The widely discussed salary, as Speaker Honourable Abbas mentioned, is around N600,000. However, this is not the main focus in the National Assembly. The real concern is the running cost.”

He clarified that the running cost is intended to cover various expenses, including maintaining a constituency office and other necessary expenditures. “For example, a trip from anywhere in Nigeria to your constituency can cost at least N1.5 million,” Ogun explained. “The running cost is part of the National Assembly’s budget, allocated to members. It’s not a salary; it’s a fund that must be accounted for monthly.”

When asked about the exact amount lawmakers received as running costs, Ogun revealed, “It’s N8.5 million monthly. Whether this has been increased now, I’m not certain, but I’ve heard discussions about a potential increase.”

Ogun further detailed that the running cost includes allowances for newspapers, international journals, and constituency office maintenance. He also noted that when lawmakers are nominated for foreign trips or parliamentary assignments, the House covers all associated costs, including tickets and estacodes.

The former lawmaker also highlighted the pressures that come with disbursing the running costs, stating, “The day the running cost is credited to your account, calls start pouring in from all directions. People seek help for rent, home repairs, and other personal issues.”

Ogun emphasized the need to reassess the necessity of the running cost, especially with the recent implementation of local government autonomy. He suggested that if local governments functioned effectively, the burden on legislators would decrease, potentially allowing them to live solely on their salaries.