The reported decision by the Lagos State House of Assembly to award each of its 40 members a N155 million house as a “parting gift” is nothing short of a blatant abuse of office. At a staggering cost of N6.2 billion to taxpayers, this move represents a shocking display of self-interest at a time when the vast majority of Nigerians are grappling with economic hardship.
Weeks after the report first surfaced, no denial has come from the Assembly. This silence, in the face of such a serious allegation, only reinforces public suspicion that lawmakers indeed approved this self-serving largesse for themselves. For a state that claims to be a model of excellence, this is a gross moral and constitutional failure.
A Culture of Entitlement
Lagos is only the latest example in what has become a national trend: politicians exploiting legal loopholes and legislative privileges to enrich themselves under the guise of public service. Since 2007, state governors and legislators across Nigeria have routinely passed outrageous pension laws and exit packages for themselves — benefits far beyond what is justified by their service or the economic realities of the states they govern.
In this context, the Lagos lawmakers’ “house gift” fits into a larger, disgraceful pattern of elite entitlement. When 40 individuals can appropriate public funds for their personal comfort in a state of nearly 20 million people, what message does that send to citizens struggling to survive? It sends the message that political office is no longer about service — it’s about self-enrichment.
A Legal and Moral Travesty
Section 124(1) of the Nigerian Constitution grants state legislatures the power to fix the remuneration of public officers, including themselves. However, the law is not absolute. It explicitly states that such remuneration must not exceed what is determined by the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) — the constitutionally empowered body for setting public officeholders’ pay.
By arbitrarily awarding themselves houses worth over N150 million each, the Lagos Assembly has not only acted immorally, but also illegally. This is not just a breach of public trust — it is a clear defiance of the Constitution.
Economic Irrationality in a Time of Scarcity
This outrageous expenditure is coming at a time when Lagos, like most Nigerian states, is battling critical infrastructure deficits, youth unemployment, housing shortages, and rising poverty. BudgIT, a civic organisation focused on fiscal transparency, rightly described such acts as “fiscal imprudence.”
If this N6.2 billion were invested in public housing, education, or transportation, the lives of thousands of Lagosians could be improved. Instead, it is being channeled to fund the luxury of a few politicians who have already enjoyed the many perks of office.
The Burden of Greed
Sadly, this culture of political excess is not unique to Lagos. By 2019, 23 states had enacted pension laws for their former governors and deputies — some of whom now also serve as ministers or senators, collecting multiple salaries and benefits. By 2023, the Debt Management Office (DMO) revealed that 18 of these states owed a combined N3.06 trillion in domestic and foreign debt.
To continue this trajectory of political gluttony while basic public services crumble is not only irresponsible — it is immoral.
Poor Productivity, High Cost
The real tragedy is that many of these legislators deliver very little in terms of impact. Few laws passed, fewer reforms implemented, and hardly any measurable improvements in the welfare or security of their constituents. If remuneration were tied to productivity, most state legislatures would owe the people, not the other way around.
Time to Reclaim Governance
Governance is a public trust, not a get-rich-quick scheme. To seek political office primarily for personal gain is a violation of both the spirit and letter of the Constitution, especially Section 14(2)(b) which clearly states: “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.”
Lagos, despite being one of Nigeria’s wealthiest states, is far from achieving its potential as a 21st-century city. Misplaced priorities like this drain critical funds from public investment and perpetuate distrust between citizens and their leaders.
It is time for political leaders — in Lagos and beyond — to lead by moral example. That begins with rejecting obscene perks, embracing fiscal prudence, and returning to the true essence of public service: serving the people.
Anything less is betrayal.
