NASS Members’ Accommodation — Based on findings from PulseNets, it is estimated that the housing allowances for members of the National Assembly could amount to approximately N5.87 billion annually.
With an annual allocation of N5.87 billion, the Federal Government is projected to spend a total of N23.48 billion on accommodation for lawmakers over a four-year period.
These allowances are determined based on data obtained from the website of the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Allocation Commission and include the following components: accommodation (200 percent of basic salary), domestic staff (75 percent of basic salary), utilities (30 percent of basic salary), house maintenance (five percent of basic salary), wardrobe (25 percent of basic salary), and furniture (300 percent of basic salary).
Although furniture allowance is typically disbursed once every four years for public office holders, the payment frequency for members of the National Assembly remains undisclosed.
Out of the total amount, the housing allowances for Senators alone are projected to cost around N1.38 billion annually.
The specific amounts for the Senate President and Deputy Senate President were not disclosed by the RMAFC. Consequently, the provided amount only covers the allowances for the 107 senators.
A detailed breakdown reveals that N4.05 million is allocated for accommodation, N1.52 million for domestic staff, N607,920 for utilities, N101,320 for house maintenance, N506,600 for wardrobe allowance, and N6.08 million for furniture allowance.
According to available information, the housing allowances for members of the House of Representatives will amount to N4.49 billion annually.
The specific amount for the Speaker and Deputy Speaker has not been disclosed by the RMAFC. Additionally, it has been reported that Isma’ila Maihanchi, the member-elect of the House of Representatives for Jalingo/Yorro/Zing federal constituency in Taraba, has passed away. Furthermore, Femi Gbajabiamila, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, resigned from the 10th House to assume his new role as the chief of staff to President Bola Tinubu. Therefore, the mentioned amount only covers the allowances for the 356 House of Representatives members.
A breakdown of the allocation reveals that N3.97 million is designated for accommodation, N1.48 million for domestic staff, N595,563.75 for utilities, N99,260.62 for house maintenance, N496,303.12 for wardrobe allowance, and N5.96 million for furniture allowance.
Since the allocations for the Senate President and Deputy Senate President, as well as the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, have not been disclosed, it is likely that the N5.87 billion figure falls short of the total amount that members of the National Assembly would receive as housing allowances annually.
PulseNets has learned that residential property prices in upscale areas of the Federal Capital Territory, such as Maitama, Asokoro, Wuse, and other locations near the city center, have surged by at least 60 percent. This surge is attributed to the high demand for housing by the newly inaugurated members of the National Assembly.
An anonymous staff member of a real estate firm confirmed the price increase, stating that it is natural for home prices to rise when there are over 900 individuals simultaneously seeking residential apartments.
The staff member said, “Yes it has, we have over 400 NASS members with over 500 support staff looking for housing accommodation at the same time so automatically the force of demand and supply has come into play so the cost of housing has jacked up.”
Giving further explanation, a real estate agent, Bimbo, blamed the current economic realities caused by the removal of fuel subsidy and high inflation as part of the reasons for the outrageous surge in prices.
The agent further revealed that some of the senators have in the meantime decided to reside at short-let apartments pending the time they can buy their preferred residence outrightly.
The agent said, “Prices of houses in posh areas have increased drastically. Houses available for rent now go for N6m from N3m before the inauguration, other smaller places for their aides that were around N800,000 now sell for almost N1.4m. Most of the senators prefer to buy than rent and this is even more expensive, a house in those posh will cost not less than N150m.
“Also, it is not solely because of the arrival of new senators but due to current economic realities caused by the removal of fuel subsidy. Even with this number, there are still empty houses that are not occupied and the owners will instead leave them to waste than sell them for a lesser amount.
“I have also noticed that some senators prefer to stay in short lets apartments for the meantime before getting their apartments. For instance, I know someone that paid to stay in an apartment for N1m per month.”
On his part, the Executive Director of the Housing Development Advocacy Group, Festus Adebayo, welcomed the new development as it would drive positive change in the sector.
He, however, warned that this may affect prices of rent beyond the affordability of a good number of workers who are salary earners.
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“Abuja is receiving over a thousand new entrants daily. The real estate sector will witness positive development but that means rent will go beyond the affordability of a good number of workers. Most landlords increase rent once the old payment expires.
“Government must provide palliative not only for govt workers but for Nigerian workers in housing.”
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