A member of the House of Representatives, Chinedu Obika, has revealed that one of his colleagues was unable to pay his daughter’s ₦700,000 school fees about two months ago, prompting him to personally cover the cost.
Obika, who represents the AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency of the Federal Capital Territory, made the disclosure during an interview on KAA Truths, posted on Thursday, while addressing widespread claims that members of the National Assembly are excessively paid.
According to him, the incident contradicts the popular belief that every lawmaker is financially benefiting from holding public office.
“Now let me tell you something you don’t know. I can tell you that about two months ago, a colleague of mine could not pay ₦700,000 for his daughter’s school fees, and I was the one who helped him get that done; a member!” he said.
Obika argued that the experience showed that lawmakers who remain silent during legislative proceedings are not necessarily being rewarded, as many people assume.
“So if it’s about personal enrichment, that’s why members are not speaking. If you’re not getting anything, you’re not speaking.
“I have never seen that kind of thing in my life, in fact, one member fought over it. National Assembly members fight when good things go to them, not when they keep quiet. So outsiders think it’s when they keep quiet that something is wrong,” he said.
The lawmaker did not disclose the identity of the colleague he assisted.
He also maintained that the salaries and allowances of National Assembly members are not hidden from the public, urging Nigerians to rely on verifiable information instead of speculation about lawmakers’ earnings.
“Every entitlement meant for a member is publicly available. If you haven’t found something specific, tell me, ‘Honourable, they said this is such-and-such amount’, and I’ll respond to it directly,” he added.