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Outgoing Senators, Reps, Aides To Get N30.2bn Severance Allowances
Senators and members of the House of Representatives will be sharing a total of N30.2 billion as severance allowance when the 9th National Assembly winds down next month, The Tide has learnt.
Also to benefit from the said sum are aides of the federal lawmakers.
Severance package or gratuity is money paid to lawmakers and their aides at the end of their four-year tenure.
The amount in question is already captured in the 2023 Appropriation Act passed by the National Assembly and assented to by President Muhammadu Buhari.
It represents 12.6 per cent of the N238.78 billion allocated to the National Assembly in the N21.8 trillion 2023 Appropriation Act.
The severance package is N7 billion higher than the N23.678 billion approved for the Eighth Assembly.
Of the N30.2 billion, Senate President Ahmad Lawan is expected to receive about N7.45 million while the Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, will receive N6.93 million.
Each of the remaining 107 Senators will go home with N6.08 million.
House of Representatives Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, is entitled to N7.43 million while Deputy Speaker Ahmed Idris Wase’s share is N6.86 million.
Each of the other 358 Reps will get N5.96 million.
The severance package of each of the 6,375 legislative aides depends on their salary grade.
Besides the money, the 469 lawmakers (including those re-elected) and some of their aides will go home with their official vehicles worth N5.5 billion.
This amount was part of the N125 billion budgetary allocation to the National Assembly in 2019.
They are also entitled to go home with some of their office equipment and consumables, including refrigerators, laptops and personal computers, among other entitlements.
Investigation showed that some of the lawmakers who are not returning and their aides are already clearing their offices of personal belongings, while those who won re-election into the 10th Assembly have also arranged their property in readiness for movement to new offices soon to be allocated to them by the National Assembly management based on ranking.
Many of the lawmakers started moving their personal effects out of the National Assembly immediately after the last party primary elections in May 2022 when they failed to secure their parties’ tickets, while others started moving theirs after the last general election.
Investigations also show that aides to some non returning lawmakers, both at the Senate and House of Representatives, were busy packing their belongings into bags while others were being assisted by some contract staff rendering ancillary services in the National Assembly to move their belongings into waiting vans.
The Tide reports that less than one third of the legislators in the 9th Assembly are returning to the parliament.
The legislative aides fall into two categories.
In one group are five Statutory Legislative Aides employed by the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) for each of the 465 lawmakers numbering 2,325.
The second category comprises about 4,000 Political and Legislative Aides employed by the National Assembly management for the Presiding Officers.
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The Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has directed his lawyers to withdraw all ongoing defamation lawsuits against several individuals, saying he was moved by counsel during a New Year Mass.
Speaking at the Sacred Heart Parish in Uyo, yesterday, Akpabio said he had filed nearly nine lawsuits against individuals he accused of defaming him.
He said, “I had almost nine cases in court against some individuals who defamed me, who lied against me, who slandered my name.
“But I listened to the priest and suddenly realised he was talking to me, so I hereby direct my solicitor to withdraw all lawsuits against them.”
In 2025, Akpabio had filed several high-profile defamation lawsuits, including one against colleague Senator Natasha Akpoti?Uduaghan.
In late 2025, Akpabio filed a N200 billion defamation lawsuit against her over allegations of sexual harassment, which he denied and urged her to substantiate in court.
Earlier in the year, Akpabio’s wife also filed defamation suits against Akpoti?Uduaghan over claims she said had harmed her family’s reputation.
Relations between the two lawmakers soured after Akpoti?Uduaghan accused Akpabio of influencing her suspension from the Senate in March 2025, following her public allegations of misconduct.
The Senator had previously challenged actions taken against her in court, including a N100 billion defamation suit she filed against Akpabio and other defendants over alleged remarks that she said damaged her reputation.
With yesterday’s announcement, Akpabio has formally ended all pending legal disputes arising from defamation claims, signalling closure to the publicised litigations as the year begins.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that the best form of gratitude Rivers people owe President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for protecting the interest of the State is to galvanize massive support for the President in 2027.
Fubara disclosed this last Monday during the commissioning of Permanent Secretaries Quarters built by his administration at Elimgbu in Obio Akpor Local Government Area of the State.
He said that the State has what it takes to deliver the President during the 2027 general elections.
“We’ve taken a decision,our decision is for the good of Rivers State, our decision is to say thank you for the protection we have from Mr President, our decision is to prove that we have what it takes to deliver Mr President.”
Fubara expressed delight over the completion of the project, stating that the initiative was to provide accommodation, a basic need of life for public servants in the state to improve their productivity.
He explained that lack of effective social welfare was at the root of some incriminating actions that undermine the purpose of governance, noting that the commissioning of the newly built Permanent Secretaries Quarters marks a significant milestone in civil service welfare and institutional development.
“Insecurity begins when individuals are uncertain of what the next hour holds. This situation is especially challenging for family men and women, affecting confidence and decision-making,” he observed.
Fubara emphasized the need for proper maintenance of the facility and urged the beneficiaries to protect the project like a personal property, while directing the State Head of Service to appoint a facility manager to ensure long-term maintenance.
In her remarks, the Special Guest of Honour and Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, who unveiled the project, expressed appreciation to the governor and Rivers State for inviting her to commission the project.
She commended Fubara for prioritizing the welfare of Permanent Secretaries who are senior public servants and accounting officers, noting that the project reflects purposeful and visionary leadership, and urged other states to borrow a cue from the Rivers State Governor.
Walson-Jack described the initiative as a strategic investment in staff welfare and institutional continuity which she noted is in line with Renewed Hope Initiative on provision of mass housing and social stability.
“The commissioning of these houses reflect a deliberate commitment to the dignity, welfare, and productivity of senior public servants responsible for policy coordination and service delivery,” she said.
In his goodwill message, the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibode Bashiru, who led a high powered delegation on a visit to the governor, congratulated Rivers people for aligning with the Pan Nigerian political party, assuring that the interest of Rivers State will be duly protected in the APC.
He described President Bola Tinubu as a detribalised Nigerian who anchors his leadership on equity, fairness and justice, adding that the APC will provide a level playing ground for all.
The APC chief scribe also commended Fubara for providing good accommodation for public servants, stating that it will address issues of sabotage, compromise and disloyalty on the part of public servants.
Giving the project description, Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Works, Dr. Austin Ezekiel-Hart, said the estate comprises 29 units, including nine standalone duplexes and 20 terrace buildings.
Facilities feature a water treatment plant, synchronized power generators, CCTV and alarm systems, a gym, recreational areas, and green spaces—designed to enhance comfort, performance, and productivity.
Earlier, the Head of the Rivers State Civil Service, Dr Mrs Inyingi Brown, had thanked the governor for his visionary initiative and unwavering commitment to the welfare of Rivers State Civil Servants, and restated the commitment of the State civil servants to the success of Fubara’s administration.
By: Taneh Beemene