9jatriot:
hence what exactly is their practical role in our development as a nation. No body should quote constitutional roles to me, I want practical and relevant roles and responsibilities.

olaglamour:
Waiting for ideykwum to come and answer the question!!!!
Hon. Desmond Elliott, what is your answer to this?

ammyluv2002:
Eat,Sleep and spend money

olaglamour:
Waiting for ideykwum to come and answer the question!!!!
Hon. Desmond Elliott, what is your answer to this?

plendil:
They are supposed to be the backbone of any liberal democratic setting, which Nigeria, for all intents belongs to. Essentially to check the powers of executive. However the case in Nigeria leaves a lot to be desired.

Urgent reforms are needed, IMO:

House of reps is actually more representative since it is related directly to the majority whose interests the representative are to protect. Indeed over the years they have proven to be a far more formidable force in the legislature. However, I think the number should be pruned. Wards merged so the total reps should not exceed 100.

Senate: Total unjustifiable waste, IMO. We don't need more than a single representative per state, plus FCT (totalling 37 as against 107). The whole idea of North, Central , South for each state, even for populations the size of a nursery school is untenable and silly.

Lastly, ofcourse is the highly contentious issue of their immoral, stupendous remuneration. IT has to be aggressively looked into and chnged.

Senate President Bukola Saraki has denied that federal lawmakers get N9billion wardrobe allowance.

He also said there were plans by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to reduce salaries and allowances of federal lawmakers.

Saraki, who stated this on his Twitter handle yesterday after meeting with the RMAFC boss, said the annual wardrobe allowance for each senator is N506,600 per annum, about N2.25 million ‎for their four-year tenure.

He also absolved lawmakers of indiscriminately allocating monies to themselves, and said that RMAFC had the sole responsibility of fixing their remuneration, adding that the Commission would soon publish details of their allowances on its website.

“RMAFC was in my office to clarify (that) wardrobe allowance is N506,600 per senator.‎ I have just been informed that RMFAC will be publishing details of allowances on their website.

“With the current challenge we are facing as a nation, RMAFC will be reviewing allowances to reflect the current economic trend. Fixing remuneration is sole responsibility of RMAFC,” the Senate president said.

LEADERSHIP recalls that there were media reports that a member of House Representatives collects N17.5 million as wardrobe allowance annually, while a senator receives about N21.5 million.