THE House of Representatives has strongly refuted allegations made by one of its members, Hon. Ibrahim Auyo, that lawmakers are required to pay between ₦1 million and ₦3 million to present bills, motions, or petitions on the floor of the chamber.
Auyo, who represents Hadejia/Auyo/Kafin Hausa Federal Constituency in Jigawa State under the All Progressives Congress (APC), made the claim during a meeting with his constituents. He cited the alleged fees as the reason he has not sponsored any bill or motion since joining the 10th Assembly.
However, in a statement issued late Friday, the House leadership dismissed the remarks as unsubstantiated, warning that such accusations, if left unchallenged could erode public trust in the National Assembly.
“Statements of this nature must be backed by verifiable facts and presented through the appropriate parliamentary channels,” the statement read.
The House noted that it actively encourages lawmakers to engage with their constituencies and give account of their stewardship during recess, but insisted that unfounded allegations could damage the institution’s credibility.
The statement further disclosed that upon resumption of plenary, Hon. Auyo will be summoned to present evidence supporting his claim.
“Should he be unable to provide evidence, the matter will be referred to the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges for appropriate consideration, in line with parliamentary procedure,” it added.
The leadership maintained its commitment to transparency, stating that parliamentary processes do not require such financial inducements and urging the public to disregard baseless insinuations.
