Why Lawmakers Are Smiling Since Tinubu Removed Fuel Subsidy

By Zainab Imam 

Since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed office and swiftly removed the controversial fuel subsidy, a series of economic and political realignments have unfolded—many of them behind closed doors. Among the most telling, and now publicly exposed, is the massive increase in constituency project allocations to federal lawmakers.

Ayodele Asalu, a former House of Representatives aspirant, recently revealed that no Member of the House of Representatives currently receives less than ₦1 billion annually for constituency projects. This is a sharp rise from the previous benchmark of ₦200 million, signaling a fivefold increase. Even more jaw-dropping is the status of Senators, who now reportedly receive no less than ₦2 billion annually for similar purposes.

“These figures are not rumours; they are the new reality in the corridors of power,” Asalu stated, adding that the post-subsidy era has seen lawmakers become some of the biggest beneficiaries of Nigeria’s shifting budgetary priorities. “While citizens are grappling with inflation and skyrocketing prices, the lawmakers are smiling to the bank under the guise of constituency development.”

The development has sparked outrage among civil society groups and policy watchers who question the transparency and impact of these funds. Many argue that despite the increased allocations, there is little evidence of corresponding infrastructural development or tangible constituency empowerment in many parts of the country.

Critics contend that the removal of subsidy, while economically justifiable, appears to have created a new elite class of beneficiaries, particularly within the legislative arm. Meanwhile, Nigerians continue to face the harsh consequences of that policy—rising transport fares, food inflation, and an increased cost of living.

Asalu's revelation is likely to fuel further calls for a comprehensive audit of constituency projects and the need for transparency in how these funds are utilized. In a time when Nigerians are being asked to make sacrifices for national progress, the question on everyone’s lips is: who exactly is the subsidy removal helping—and at what cost?