Fresh concerns have trailed the integrity of the National Assembly’s legislative process following an allegation by a member of the House of Representatives that lawmakers pay between N1 million and N3 million before being allowed to present motions, bills or petitions during plenary.

The lawmaker, Ibrahim Usman Auyo, who represents Hadejia, Auyo and Kafin Hausa Federal Constituency of Jigawa State, claimed in a video, which went viral yesterday, where he spoke in Hausa.

The lawmaker was seen in the video reacting to criticism from his constituents. According to him, the process of getting items listed for consideration in the House is financially driven, contrary to the public perception that debates are guided solely by merit.

Auyo, popularly known as ‘Kamfan’, denied claims that other lawmakers wrote motions out of their people’s needs, but insisted that legislative processes at the National Assembly were financially-driven.

He also dismissed accusations that he had neglected youth empowerment in his constituency, insisting that the majority of his projects had directly benefited young people.

Deputy spokesperson of the House, Philip Agbese, told The Guardian that Auyo’s statement was “baseless and deeply irresponsible.” Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Auwal Rafsanjani, noted that while motions and bills are not supposed to be commercialised, corruption in the public sector makes such allegations possible.