Lawmakers Have No Right To Fix Their Salaries – Obasanjo Blasts National Assembly

Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has criticised members of the National Assembly over their involvement in deciding their own salaries, saying they do not have such authority.

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Naija News reports that he spoke during an interview on News Central on Saturday, April 25, 2026, where he addressed what he sees as a wrong understanding of the Constitution by lawmakers. According to him, elected legislators are not permitted by law to determine their own pay.

Obasanjo said allowing lawmakers to fix their salaries raises concerns about proper conduct in public office, especially at a time when many Nigerians are facing economic hardship. He maintained that such actions could lead to abuse of power and weaken trust in government.

“The elected members of the National Assembly have no right to fix their own salary, no, they don’t have that right, and it’s not in our constitution for them to do that”,

He also warned that ignoring constitutional limits could create a system where public officials focus more on personal benefit than on serving the people. He stressed that following the law is important to ensure fairness and openness in governance.

The former president insisted that the issue goes beyond salaries, adding that respect for the Constitution is necessary to prevent future problems in the country’s leadership system.