NEWS
SERAP asks court to slash jumbo allowances for Buhari, Govs, NASS members
Precious ADELOLA
LAGOS-Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja “to order the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) and the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) to perform their statutory functions to review downward the remuneration and allowances of President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, 36 governors and members of the National Assembly.”
Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari
SERAP is arguing that “slashing jumbo pay for these high-ranking political office-holders would reduce the unfair pay disparity between political officer holders and judicial officers, address the persistent poor treatment of judges, and improve access of victims of corruption to justice and effective remedies.”
In the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/658/2021 filed last Friday, SERAP is seeking: “an order of mandamus to direct and compel the RMAFC to send its downward review of the remuneration and allowances of these high-ranking public office holders and recommendations to the National Assembly for appropriate remedial and legislative action, as provided for by the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended].”
SERAP is also seeking “an order of mandamus to direct and compel the RMAFC to perform its mandatory constitutional duty to urgently review upward the remuneration, salaries and allowances, as well as the conditions of service for Nigerian judges.”
Joined in the suit as Respondents are Senate President, Ahmad Lawan; Speaker of House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, for themselves, and on behalf of all members of the Senate and House of Representative; and the National Judicial Council.
SERAP is arguing that: “While high-ranking political office-holders continue to enjoy lavish allowances, including life pensions, and access to security votes, which they have powers to spend as they wish, the remuneration and allowances of judges are grossly insufficient to enable them to maintain themselves and their families in reasonable comfort.”
According to SERAP: “The huge pay disparity between these high-ranking political officer-holders and judges is unfair, unjust and discriminatory, especially given the roles of judges to the people and the country.”
SERAP is also seeking “an order of mandamus to direct and compel NSIWC to perform its mandatory legal duty to urgently examine, streamline and recommend upward remuneration and allowances of Nigerian judges, and to recommend downward review of allowances of President Buhari, Vice-President Osinbajo, 36 governors and lawmakers to the National Assembly.”
The suit filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers Kolawole Oluwadare and Ms Adelanke Aremo, read in part: “the remuneration and allowances of judges have fallen substantially behind the average salaries and allowances of high-ranking political office-holders such as President, Vice-President, governors and lawmakers.”
“While government reviewed upward the salaries and allowances of political office holders on four occasions between May 1999 and March 2011, the salaries and allowances of judicial officers were only reviewed twice during the same period.”
“The review of the remuneration, allowances, and conditions of service for political, public and judicial office holders carried out by the RMAFC in 2009 shows huge disparity between the remuneration and allowances of judges and those of high-ranking political office-holders.”
“The NSIWC in a letter to SERAP admitted that it has powers to examine, streamline and recommend the salary scales applicable to each post in the public service but informed us to redirect our request to the RMAFC.”
“There is a legal duty upon the RMAFC to urgently review downward the remuneration and allowances of high-ranking political office-holders.”
“Judges should get all to which they are reasonably entitled, and it is unfair, illegal, unconstitutional, and discriminatory to continue to treat judges as second-class people while high-ranking political office-holders continue to enjoy lavish salaries and allowances.”
“Despite their important roles and responsibilities, Nigerian judges are poorly treated, particularly when their remuneration, salaries, allowances, and conditions of service are compared with that of political office-holders. Judges should not have to endure the most poignant financial worries.”
“The increase in the cost of living and the injustice of inadequate salaries bears heavily on judges, as it undermines their ability to effectively perform their judicial functions.”
“The roles and functions performed by judges across the country are second to none in their importance, including in facilitating access of victims of corruption and human rights violations to justice and effective remedies.”
“As a safeguard of judicial independence, the budget of the judiciary ought to be prepared in collaboration with the judiciary having regard to the peculiar needs and requirements of judicial administration.”
“The remuneration and pensions of judges must be secured by law at an adequate level that is consistent with their status and is sufficient to safeguard against conflict of interest and corruption.”
“Nigerians would continue to bear the brunt of denied access to justice, a better judiciary and a better administration of justice until judges across the country are paid what they rightly deserve.”
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.
The Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has commenced a fresh physical verification of disputed and newly drilled crude oil and gas well coordinates across nine states, in a move aimed at ensuring fairness and accuracy in the allocation of the 13 per cent derivation fund.
The exercise, covering the period from 2017 to date, was formally flagged off in Owerri, Imo State, on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, by the Commission’s Chairman, Dr Mohammed Bello Shehu.
The affected states are Delta, Ondo, Edo, Anambra, Imo, Bayelsa, Rivers, Cross River and Akwa Ibom.
SEE ALSO: How RMAFC Recovered Over N500bn For FG
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, Shehu described the exercise as critical to ensuring transparency, accuracy and fairness in the administration of derivation revenue.
He explained that the Commission has a constitutional responsibility to monitor revenue accruals and disbursements from the Federation Account and ensure equitable distribution of derivation funds among oil and gas-producing states.
The RMAFC chairman stressed that determining the exact coordinates and geographical positions of oil and gas wellheads directly affects the legal and financial entitlements of the respective states.
He consequently charged members of the Inter-Agency Technical Committee (IATC) and deployed technical officers to carry out the assignment with diligence, precision and professionalism.
Shehu insisted that every verified coordinate, technical assessment and physical observation must be sufficiently accurate to withstand statutory scrutiny.
According to him, the exercise will involve examining disputed and newly drilled oil and gas well coordinates, physically verifying affected wellheads, plotting their locations using approved maps and considering relevant court decisions in resolving outstanding disputes.
He also directed that the committee’s harmonised technical report and findings be submitted exclusively to RMAFC for ratification and formal adoption.
The Inter-Agency Technical Committee comprises representatives of relevant technical institutions, including the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation (OSGoF), the National Boundary Commission (NBC) and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
The Imo State Governor was represented at the event by the Commissioner for Petroleum, Hon. Emeka Mgbudem.
Other government officials and RMAFC commissioners in attendance included Hon. Adamu Abdu Fanda, Chairman of the Crude Oil Committee; Hon. Oladele Semiu Gboyega, Chairman of the Gas Committee; Hon. Ismail Mohammed Agaka, Chairman of the Public Affairs and Communication Committee; Ambassador Ayuba Jacob Ngbako; Hon. Akpan Imo Effiong; and Hon. Helen Bob Inafa.
Also present were the Imo State Commissioner for Lands, Surveyor Clement Nwabichie; Commissioner for Finance and Coordinating Economy, Mr Chucks Chukwuemeka; and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Lands, Dr Angelina Ohiri.
The Commission disclosed that the verification exercise had been conducted previously but was being repeated to ensure that all issues raised were adequately addressed.
Vice President Kashim Shettima has paid a courtesy visit to the Palace of the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign rally in Benin City, Edo State.
Shettima arrived at the historic royal palace on Thursday to pay homage to His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, CFR.
The visit highlights the significance of the Benin traditional institution, which has preserved its rich cultural heritage, kingship, artistry and diplomatic traditions for more than seven centuries.
SEE MORE: Shettima Arrives Jigawa for APC Presidential Campaign Rally, Tinubu to Inaugurate Four Projects
The Benin Palace remains one of Africa’s most historic royal institutions, representing the enduring legacy and cultural identity of the ancient Benin Kingdom.
The Vice President is in Edo State to participate in the APC presidential campaign rally scheduled to hold at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City.
As part of efforts to expand access to cheaper alternative fuel and reduce transportation costs, the federal government has commissioned five Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) daughter and last-mile retail stations in Lagos State.
The facilities, developed by the Ibile Oil and Gas Corporation (IOGC) with support from the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund (MDGIF), were commissioned on Wednesday by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo.
Speaking at the commissioning, Ekpo said Lagos occupied a special place in the public-service journey of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, noting that his administration was extending the development philosophy pursued during his tenure as governor to the national level.
READ ALSO: NLNG, NCDMB Endow Research Chairs in Six Nigerian Varsities with $9m
He said Lagos had demonstrated the importance of long-term planning, institution building, infrastructure development and the mobilisation of private capital for economic growth.
According to him, the federal government is applying similar determination through the Renewed Hope Agenda to ensure that Nigeria’s abundant gas resources support industrial growth, businesses, transportation and job creation while reducing the cost pressures faced by citizens.
“Through the Renewed Hope Agenda, the President has made it clear that Nigeria’s abundant gas resources must work for Nigerians. They must power our industries, support businesses, improve transportation, create employment and, ultimately, reduce the cost pressures faced by ordinary citizens,” he said.
The five stations are located in Idimu and Abule Egba in Alimosho Local Government Area; Ogolonto in Ikorodu West Local Government Area; Ajah in Eti-Osa Local Government Area; and Oko-Oba in Agege Local Government Area.
Each facility has a CNG compression capacity of 24,000 standard cubic metres per day and a storage capacity of 9,800 standard cubic metres.
The stations are designed as last-mile retail outlets to bring CNG closer to consumers in their residential and business locations.
Ekpo said the facilities would improve access to alternative fuel for motorists and commercial transport operators, while supporting the government’s objective of expanding cleaner energy infrastructure nationwide.
“These stations represent access. They represent affordability. And they represent the determination of government to take the benefits of Nigeria’s gas resources directly to the people,” he said.
He disclosed that President Tinubu had directed the expansion of CNG infrastructure across the country, including the development of an additional 500 refuelling stations towards a planned national network of 1,000 stations.
He said the initiative was aimed at ensuring that the benefits of the country’s gas resources translated into lower transportation costs for Nigerians.
According to the minister, expanding CNG infrastructure in Lagos would provide motorists and commercial transport operators with viable alternative fuel options, while bringing cleaner energy closer to consumers.
“Our objective is therefore not simply to count the number of stations commissioned. Success must ultimately be measured by impact: whether the infrastructure helps reduce operating costs for transporters and businesses, whether those savings reach commuters, and whether Nigerian families begin to feel tangible relief,” he said.
Ekpo said the Ministry of Petroleum Resources (Gas), in collaboration with the Presidential CNG Initiative, MDGIF, state governments, investors and other industry stakeholders, was working to expand refuelling and associated infrastructure to improve access to cleaner and cheaper fuel.
He commended IOGC and the Lagos State Government for embracing the initiative, describing the project as an example of the federal government, state governments and private sector working together to develop critical infrastructure.
The minister also praised MDGIF for its catalytic role in supporting gas infrastructure development, assuring investors of the government’s commitment to providing an enabling environment for investments to translate into physical projects and economic benefits for Nigerians.
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