No House of Reps member receives less than N1 Billion for Projects – Ayodele Asalu

A chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, Ayodele Asalu, has publicly alleged a substantial increase in constituency project allocations for federal lawmakers following the removal of the fuel subsidy last year.

Asalu, a former aspirant for the Ede/Egbedore/Ejigbo Federal Constituency House of Representatives seat, claimed that members of the House of Representatives now receive no less than N1 billion for their constituency projects. This figure, he asserted, marks a dramatic jump from previous allocations which he said were less than N200 million. Senators, according to his claim, now benefit from allocations of no less than N2 billion for similar projects.

These funds, officially designated as constituency allowances, are federal allocations intended to support lawmakers in addressing local socio-economic needs and fostering rural development within their constituencies.

Speaking at a recent gathering with his supporters and APC members, Asalu linked the purported increase directly to the higher federal allocations states have received since the end of the fuel subsidy regime. He stated that the increase in state allocations has correlated with a rise in project funds available to lawmakers.

“Before 2024, it wasn’t like this,” Asalu was quoted saying in a video. “But after subsidy removal, federal allocations to states increased—and so did lawmakers’ project funds.” He stressed that these funds are specifically for projects aimed at benefiting constituents, cautioning the public against believing they come from the lawmakers’ personal finances.

The APC chieftain credited the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for this upward review, suggesting the move was intended to improve citizens’ lives by empowering elected representatives to deliver more tangible developmental projects at the grassroots level.

Citing his state as an example, Asalu reiterated the specific figures: “Take Osun State as an example, before now, an Honourable member’s allowance was less than N200 million. Today, nobody gets less than N1 billion. And no senator operates with less than N2 billion. These are facts, not exposés.” He did not, however, specify whether these large sums represent monthly or annual allocations, although constituency project funds are typically budgeted on an annual basis.