A member of the House of Representatives, Chinedu Obi, has revealed that one of his colleagues was unable to pay his daughter’s ₦700,000 school fees despite serving as a federal lawmaker, arguing that the incident shows that not all legislators are as wealthy or overpaid as many Nigerians believe.
Speaking during an interview, Obi said the lawmaker had to seek financial assistance to settle the tuition, insisting that the public perception that every member of the National Assembly enjoys enormous personal wealth does not reflect reality for all lawmakers.
According to him, while discussions about the remuneration of public office holders are legitimate, there is often little understanding of the financial obligations many lawmakers shoulder, including supporting constituents, family members and community projects. He maintained that the experience of his colleague illustrates the varying financial circumstances of members of the National Assembly.
The revelation has sparked fresh debate over the salaries and allowances of Nigerian lawmakers, with many citizens continuing to demand greater transparency and accountability in the management of public funds. Critics argue that legislators remain among the country’s highest-paid public officials, while supporters insist that public perceptions do not always reflect individual realities.
Experienced broadcast journalist with over 5 years of experience in reporting, multimedia editing, and storytelling across both traditional and digital media. I currently work with Vision FM 92.1 and Daily Frontier, where I report on security, conflict, and humanitarian issues, while also translating news into Hausa and Pidgin to reach wider audiences.
I also serve as a correspondent for Daily Frontier in Plateau and Benue States, Nigeria, covering security, conflict, and humanitarian developments in the region.
I hold a Diploma in Mass Communication from Adamawa State Polytechnic and a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication from the National Open University of Nigeria.
