Ripples
At a time when Nigeria is facing serious revenue challenges, and states are considering cutting work force to deal with shrinking resources, one would think that lawmakers, representing the people bearing the brunt of the hardship, would be more frugal.
After all, in various legislative assemblies, both at state and federal, the primary responsibilities are to ensure that critical issues confronting those they represent are resolved first.
These contracts of commitment to the people are clearly enunciated in the laws governing the country.
For example, on the website of the Lagos State House of Assembly, it is clearly stated that, “Our mission is interest of our people first.”
Similarly, Abia State House of Assembly in its well published blueprint for the people promised a legislature that responds to citizens demands for greater transparency and accountability first.
Acting the opposite
Amid the promises and realities facing the economy, Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria decided that the 2022 one-week retreat on legislative processes will be held in faraway Canada.
Speaking during the opening ceremony in Ottawa, the Chairman of the Conference and Speaker of Bauchi State House of Assembly Hon. Abubakar Suleiman explained that that the choice of Canada for the retreat is strategic given its shared history of being a commonwealth nation and democratic experiences with Nigeria.
He also noted during the retreat that the State Lawmakers in Nigeria settled for Canada in order to review that country’s practices.
Factoring the costs
While it can rightly be argued that there is need to improve legislative process in Nigeria, the timing of the retreat in Canada raises a lot of eyebrows.
It is estimated that the 36-man strong delegation, if aides are not included, will cost taxpayers over N74 million for hotel accommodation, feeding and travels.
According to checks on Travelstart, an online travel agency, a return flight ticket to Canada will cost each lawmaker at least N1,206,200 which comes to about N43.4 million. This does not include mobility within Canada.
The Travelstart website also revealed that a hotel that could house all lawmakers in one location would cost N126,502 per night and N885,514 for a week. This comes to over N31.8 million combined accommodation expenses for the 36 lawmakers.
Price of a jamboree
While the lawmakers enjoy the cool breeze of Canada, many Nigerian workers who they represent at different level continue to live in squalor.
…But the do the lawmakers really care? Do they appreciate the opportunity cost if their actions? Here is what the spend in Canada could have been used to achieve:
123 water boreholes
It could have constructed 123 boreholes at N600,000 each across the country. The boreholes would have reduced the challenges of proper sanitation caused by acute water scarcity in the communities, especially rural areas.
N.5m loans to 150 youths
With N500,000 loan each, it could have helped 150 young Nigerian graduates to start a business with the opportunity to scale and eventually employ thousands.
Healthcare for 2,466 Nigerians
The N75 million spent by the lawmakers could help 2,466 Nigerian families…
