On Friday, the House of Representatives expressed concern that much of the information circulating about lawmakers’ earnings is inaccurate, asserting that these earnings are publicly available and determined by the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation, and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).
This response came following a viral social media video featuring Rep. Abejide Leke of the Yagba Federal Constituency in Kogi State, who purportedly detailed lawmakers’ earnings. In the video, Leke allegedly mentioned earning N2.5m as a basic salary, N5m for accommodation, N7.5m for furniture, N1.2m for newspapers, N621,000 for wardrobe, and N248,000 for recess.
However, the House spokesperson, Akin Rotimi, clarified in a statement that a fact check showed the video had been manipulated to spread false information. Rotimi explained that Leke was actually raising a point of order regarding a claim made by Adeola Fayehun during a plenary session.
The statement noted, “In the original video, Rep. Abejide complained that his privilege had been breached, pointing out that Fayehun, a social media commentator based in the United States, was spreading false claims about lawmakers’ earnings, misleading his constituents and Nigerians.”
Leke urged the House leadership to address the issue, highlighting the danger of disinformation targeting parliamentarians. Rotimi emphasized the importance of verifying information from reliable sources to avoid the spread of misinformation, which can erode trust in democratic institutions and disrupt legislative processes.
He reiterated that lawmakers’ earnings are publicly documented by the RMAFC, urging the public to remain vigilant against fake news to protect democratic integrity.
