The Center for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity (CFTPI) is deeply alarmed by recent allegations of corruption involving members of the National Assembly, particularly the disturbing claims that some legislators demanded bribes from Vice-Chancellors of universities in exchange for budget approvals. These allegations, if proven true, represent a gross abuse of power, a betrayal of public trust, and a blatant violation of the oversight functions enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution.
The Center condemns in the strongest terms these alleged practices, which are not only unethical but also inimical to national development. Such actions undermine the integrity of public institutions, perpetuate systemic corruption, and deprive Nigerians of quality education and infrastructure they deserve. We call for an immediate, independent, and transparent investigation into these allegations to ensure that those found culpable are held accountable.
The National Assembly, as the people’s representatives, is constitutionally mandated to perform oversight functions that ensure fiscal discipline and accountability in governance. However, when legislators exploit these responsibilities for personal gain, they not only betray public trust but also erode the very foundation of democracy and governance. This latest development is not an isolated case; rather, it reflects a recurring pattern of abuse of legislative power, as seen in previous corruption scandals involving members of the National Assembly.
A history of legislative corruption further illustrates this trend. For instance, in 2016, former Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation, Abdulmumin Jibrin, exposed how the leadership of the House of Representatives allegedly padded the national budget with over ₦250 billion worth of projects for their personal benefit. His suspension, instead of an earnest investigation, illustrated the entrenched resistance to transparency in the Assembly. Reports of legislators demanding bribes from heads of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in exchange for favorable evaluations or budget approvals are rampant. This corrupt practice weakens governance institutions and compromises service delivery to the Nigerian people. Some lawmakers have consistently manipulated the national budget to insert projects that directly benefit them. By ensuring that these projects are awarded to their associates or shell companies, funds meant for development are siphoned off, leaving essential infrastructure in a dire state.
Constituency projects, which are supposed to enhance local development, have often been characterized by grossly inflated project costs, substandard execution, or outright non-execution. This deliberate misappropriation of funds has robbed citizens of the benefits meant for their communities, and despite the well-meaning efforts of the of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) through its Constituency and Executive Project Tracking initiatives, frivolous insertions in the guise of constituency projects remains a major concern in the nation’s budgeting processes.
Furthermore, the National Assembly’s use of probe panels to investigate corruption has itself become a conduit for further corrupt practices. Over the years, a litany of grand corruption-related probes has been set up since 1999, only for most to be abandoned for unjustified reasons, raising questions about the true intentions behind such inquiries. These probes, rather than serving as instruments of accountability, often become avenues for political bargaining, cover-ups, or selective justice. The Center’s Probes Monitor portal provides comprehensive documentation of these abandoned investigations, underscoring the urgent need for a functional and independent legislative oversight mechanism that prioritizes genuine accountability over vested interests.
The persistence of these corrupt practices is a glaring indictment of the National Assembly’s failure to uphold its constitutional role as a check on the executive arm of government. Instead, many legislators have turned their offices into avenues for personal enrichment at the expense of national progress. The Center therefore calls for urgent reforms and decisive actions, including independent investigations and prosecutions by relevant anti-corruption agencies, and a commitment to holding corrupt lawmakers accountable. Strengthening institutional oversight is critical, and the Executive, the judiciary, civil society groups and the media must play a more active role in ensuring that the National Assembly operates with transparency and integrity.
Nigerians must rise against legislative corruption by demanding accountability from their representatives. It is time constituents monitored the activities of lawmakers, engage in public discourse, and reject leaders who abuse their positions. Additionally, past attempts to expose corruption in the National Assembly have been met with intimidation and victimization. Whistleblowers must be protected and incentivized to expose corruption without fear of retaliation. We therefore seize this opportunity to call for the resubmission of the Whistleblower Protection Bill to the National Assembly for expedite actions.
The National Assembly is not above the law, and its members must be held to the highest standards of accountability. If Nigeria is to achieve meaningful progress, legislative corruption must not only be condemned but also decisively tackled.
Victor Agi
Head, Public Relations