By Badagry Today A shocking revelation has emerged from the National Assembly following a viral Facebook post by Hon. Benedict Etanabene ,...
A shocking revelation has emerged from the National Assembly following a viral Facebook post by Hon. Benedict Etanabene, the Labour Party member representing Okpe, Sapele, and Uvwie Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives. In a detailed and explosive statement, the lawmaker exposed what he described as “deep-rooted inequality and corruption” within the budgeting and financial management system of Nigeria’s National Assembly.
According to Etanabene, the public perception that lawmakers are awash with billions from constituency projects is far from the truth. He claimed that while the leadership of both chambers of the National Assembly allegedly corner billions of naira yearly, ordinary members are left financially stranded, often forced to borrow money to execute projects for their constituents.
“So much talk about constituency projects and empowerment by senators and members of the House of Representatives. The truth is clear. There’s a National Assembly budget that is managed by the Senate President, Deputy Senate President, Majority Leader, Whip, and their deputies. The same applies to minority leaders. In every budget year, these principal officers share among themselves more than 30 times what ordinary members get,” Etanabene wrote.
He went further to give a concrete example, alleging that in the 2024 budget, an ordinary member was allocated between ₦320 million and ₦750 million for constituency projects, while the leaders got “billions or more.”
The lawmaker stated that despite the allocation of funds in the budget, “not a kobo” has been released to ordinary lawmakers as of October 2024. He revealed that many legislators had to use personal or borrowed funds to execute projects, while others have gone broke trying to meet the expectations of their constituents.
“If you see an ordinary senator or House of Representatives member doing projects or empowerment since 2023 till date, just know it’s from his own pocket. No payment has been made for 2024 constituency projects. We borrow money to satisfy our people, just to show something is being done,” he lamented.
Etanabene also accused principal officers of manipulating their positions to corner more lucrative projects and maintain financial comfort, while ordinary members struggle to stay afloat.
“A principal officer or leader can arrange things so that half of their projects are paid for, and they’ll still remain buoyant. But that cannot be said for ordinary members. In the National Assembly today, members are begging fellow members for lifelines. Some leaders can even give out millions to others. How they get so much is the mystery that fuels public suspicion of corruption,” he wrote.
The Labour Party lawmaker described the current situation in the National Assembly as “an animal farm,” where the powerful thrive at the expense of others.
He also debunked the notion that lawmakers have access to unlimited government funds, stressing that many of the so-called “empowerment” programs the public sees are funded personally by members who feel compelled to meet expectations back home.
“People think senators and reps are swimming in money. Billions from where? From the Federal Government treasury or from an ATM in our houses? It’s ignorance. Many of us are deeply indebted. Forget all the buga you see; there’s no money. Some of us have become poorer since we came to the National Assembly,” he said.
Etanabene further revealed that aside from principal officers, another privileged group are chairmen of major committees in both the Senate and House of Representatives. However, he clarified that not all committees enjoy such privileges, describing the inequality as “painful but real.”
“We are not equal at all. A Senate President or Deputy can easily attract higher institutions or federal projects to his constituency, though often at the cost of corruption. But for ordinary members, it’s nearly impossible,” he added.
The Delta lawmaker expressed frustration over what he described as a “tribalized” budget preparation system dominated by officials from Nigeria’s major ethnic groups. He alleged that minority regions like his often get sidelined during budget planning because the process is controlled by permanent secretaries and directors from specific regions.
“Only major tribes dominate the budget office and federal MDAs. They put projects where they come from, while minority areas are ignored. That’s why regions like ours see no federal presence. Even when we write proposals, they’re ignored,” Etanabene lamented.
He concluded by reiterating his commitment to truth and transparency, saying he would rather speak up than continue in silence while Nigerians remain misinformed about the reality of governance.
“You can enter the National Assembly rich and come out broke, or enter poor and leave a billionaire—it depends on your position, your connections, and your willingness to play the system. For me, I offered to serve, not to deceive. If this is what representation means, then maybe it’s time for me to go home,” he wrote.
Etanabene’s revelation has sparked widespread reactions online, with many Nigerians expressing shock and anger over what they describe as confirmation of the long-suspected rot within the National Assembly.
Political observers say his statement could further deepen public scrutiny of the National Assembly’s opaque budgetary processes and the enormous financial privileges allegedly enjoyed by its leadership at the expense of rank-and-file members.
If verified, Etanabene’s claims could reignite calls for transparency, equity, and a total overhaul of the budgeting system in Nigeria’s legislature, one many now believe is built to enrich a few while leaving others, including those elected to serve, financially broken.
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