The 10th Assembly’s House of Representatives members would each get N150 million, a total of N54 billion for constituency projects.
The constituency allowances, according to one of the members who requested anonymity, are among the few privileges that allow legislators to directly influence their individual communities.
Constituency or zonal intervention projects in Nigeria relate to construction initiatives funded by a variety of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies and located in the districts of the State House of Assembly, House of Representatives, or senatorial candidates.
These initiatives frequently include banners with the name of the legislator declaring that the initiative was accomplished.
Legislative wages and benefits have traditionally been the subject of debates since they are sometimes veiled in secrecy.
Each House of Representatives member received N100 million during the ninth legislature, while each member of the Red Chamber received N200 million for constituency projects.
The constituency stipend of the MPs has, however, raised by N50m in the midst of adversity and the necessity to urge the populace to bear the difficult times in expectation of the good times and the “Renewed Hope” of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration.
A legislator stated:
“In the House of Reps, our constituency allowance is N150m. This is the only opportunity we have to help our constituencies with one or more projects.
“We usually don’t have power over the real projects. So, this is often like palliative for us to give back to our constituencies. Many of us often use our money to do all the projects that we do for our constituencies.
“And this year, we are getting N150m in the House of Reps; I don’t know how much they will get at the Senate.”