Monthly and Annual Salary of House of Representative Members in Nigeria

Nigeria has a legislative body called the National Assembly, which is composed of multiple chambers. Among these chambers, the House of Representatives holds the lower rank in terms of legislative authority. 

The House of Representatives 

The House of Representatives is made up of 360 people whose responsibility is to make laws, perform oversight functions and advocate the needs of their constituencies. This House of Representatives is bossed by an individual called the "speaker" who is freely and fairly appointed by members of the house. The speaker is expected to supervise and direct the affairs of the house, uphold law and order, and see to it that all functions follow due process. 

Furthermore, the House of Representatives is curated in different states based on its population size. This is to say that the number of representatives allotted to a certain state is proportional to its population. The reason behind this is to be sure that states with more population have enough members in the House of Representatives and states with less population have a smaller number of reps. Taking this route ensures equal distribution of reps within the states. 

Functions of the House of Representatives 

• To make laws, debate on suggestions, and vote on bills and resolutions.

• Address all issues affecting the nation at large.

• Advocate the needs and concerns of the people within the constituency.

• Making Inquiries, conducting hearings and investigations to address actions and policies of the government.

• Run committee work which includes assessing laws and supervising several government agencies. 

• Engages with other legislative national bodies to foster a tactful relationship.

• Identifying and executing community projects.

• Confirm nominees for different positions and appointments.

• Discuss and deliberate on pressing issues. 

• Sharing of information and collaboration between the federal and state level of government.

Key Positions within the House of Representatives

There are different leadership roles held by certain members within the house. These roles include: 

Speaker

The Speaker of the House of Representatives is the highest position in the house and holds significant responsibilities such as presiding over the house. The speaker must also ensure law and order, interpret and apply the laws of the house. If any member wishes to speak or make suggestions on the points of order, the speaker recognizes this person and gives them a chance to speak with the belief that their recommendations are beneficial to the legislative body. 

Also, the speaker can appoint members to be part of various committees and assign certain duties to them. The total functionality of the house depends on the speaker's availability and presence.

Deputy Speaker

A deputy speaker assists the speaker on the majority of their assignment and is recognized as the 2nd-highest ranking officer within the house. The deputy speaker is expected to stand in for the speaker in his absence. As agreed by the two leaders, the deputy speaker continues with the role of the speaker and ensures that the house is in order even while the speaker is away.

However, the duty of the deputy speaker is not pegged to the non-availability of the speaker alone. Even while the speaker is present, a deputy speaker takes on roles that may include supervising committees, representing the house in external engagements, and taking part in various decision-making processes. 

Majority Leader

All activities of the majority party and coalition within the house are coordinated by the majority leader. They team up with party leaders to develop and implement the party's agenda. Also, the majority leader acts as a spokesman and represents the party's view during discussions and decisions. 

Likewise, for all legislative movements and initiatives, a majority leader mobilizes support and liaises with other party members to build an alliance, gather assistance for bills and resolutions, and ensure that party members are properly informed of ongoing or upcoming legislative subjects. 

Minority Leader

Just like the majority leader is in charge of the majority party, the minority leader also supervises the affairs of the minority within the house. They take the lead when it comes to oppositions and they also communicate the suggestions, concerns, interests, and decisions of the minority party.  The Minority leader, on many occasions, merges with other leaders within the party to negotiate, advocate and influence the legislative process to ensure that the interests of the minority party are prioritized.

Chief Whip

"Whip" already sounds like a tool that calls people to order so the duty of a "Chief Whip" is not far-fetched. A Chief Whip is responsible for ensuring discipline and tactfulness among the members of the party. They organize and mobilize party members whenever it is time to cast important votes and ensure that members cast their votes according to the party's agreement. It is also the responsibility of the Chief Whip to monitor the attendance of the party members during meetings and legislative sessions. 

Deputy Chief Whip

A Deputy Chief whip helps with the cumbersome workload that a Chief Whip may have at a certain period within the tenure. The duty of a deputy chief whip also includes assisting the Chief Whip in maintaining discipline and orderliness within the party house. 

Structure of the House of Representatives

The Nigerian House of Representatives can be divided into 3 important parts which are :

• Majority 

• Minority 

• Others

Majority

This category has the highest number of seats for representatives and because of this, they form the majority group. Members of the majority group are allowed to construct and mold the law, set legislative agenda, and be top decision-makers within the party. Some of their responsibilities include coordinating and pushing the party's plan, gathering support, and working towards achieving a common goal for all members. Currently in Nigeria, the majority party is the All Progressive Congress Party with 176 seats for representatives. 

Minority

The Minority group has a lesser number of representatives compared to the majority. Although they may not be a lot, they also have vital roles they play within the house and this includes providing alternative viewpoints, thoroughly checking through the party's policies, and presenting opposition to the majority's party positions. In Nigeria, the People's Democratic Party is currently seen as the minority party having a total of 118 as its number of representatives. 

Others

The people in this category do not belong to the majority party, nor do they belong to the minority party because they are smaller and even independent political parties that do not have a worthy or significant number of seats to form a party. However, the insignificant number of seats doesn't make them unnecessary, they also contribute to legislative debates, propose bills and partake in other valuable functions within the House. About 64 political parties fall into this category.

All three parties discussed above explain the composition and flow of the political parties and groups within the House of Representatives. 

Monthly/Yearly Salary of the House of Representatives Members

The salary of a member of the House of Representatives is usually determined by Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), this body is responsible for allocating allowances and generations to public officeholders. The salaries do not take the same turn all year round because several factors such as the economic situation and cost of living may influence the amount that is being paid to the members. However, based on several research, here is an insight into how members of the House of Representatives are paid:

• The annual salary for a member of the House of Representatives is about NGN9.6 million, equating to 800,000 naira monthly.

• However, people often mistake the office running cost of each member of the house for the salary. The office running cost of one member is usually around 8.5 million naira monthly. 

However, these salaries and costs may fluctuate over time as RMAFC constantly reviews and adjusts the salary package. 

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