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Abuja, Nigeria – A senior official at the National Assembly, Ifeoma Ofili, has made explosive revelations alleging widespread corruption among federal lawmakers, including routine bribery, falsification of reports, and diversion of funds meant for staff welfare.
TJ News Nigeria learnt that Ofili, a Director at the House of Representatives and former Clerk of the House Committee on Local Content, made these allegations during a retreat organized by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) on June 27 in Abuja.
Her remarks, captured on video and now circulating widely on social media, have triggered nationwide outrage, raising serious questions about transparency and accountability within the Nigerian legislature.
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Lawmakers Accused of Receiving Bribes from MDAs
Ofili alleged that legislators frequently collect bribes from Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) during oversight functions, thereby compromising their constitutional role.
“You go there, they tell you what to write, they give you money, they quarter you, they give you flight [tickets], and the members will come and fight over the money. They will not give the clerk. They will not give the committee assistant that they took along,” she said during her presentation.
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She emphasized that legislative staff are often excluded from funds provided during these visits, and that the reports generated are based on fabricated narratives, not actual oversight.
Fake Public Hearing Reports Allegedly Commissioned
TJ News Nigeria gathered that Ofili also accused lawmakers of outsourcing public hearing reports to consultants who did not attend the hearings, thereby sidelining clerks and violating legislative procedure.
“We did a public hearing last year. The committee told me a consultant had been hired to write the report. I asked him if he attended. He said ‘no.’ I told him I wouldn’t work with him,” she said.
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“I sat down and I did a proper report of that public hearing and submitted it to the chairman. They were shocked, but I stood my ground. I told them—if they want to change it, they can—but the original report is saved in my system.”
Allegations of Budget Manipulation and Staff Neglect
In a more damning revelation, Ofili alleged that allowances budgeted for National Assembly staff—including training, healthcare, and welfare—are routinely diverted.
“We don’t follow the budget process. They budget for staff clinics, sports, books… and collapse it,” she said. “The statutory allocation for National Assembly staff is collapsed, and even constitutional allowances are diverted.”
She painted a bleak picture of staff welfare, especially retirees, stating that many are left unpaid for one to two years after retirement.
“Retirees call to beg for money to buy fuel. Some are left stranded at the Assembly gate. They can’t fuel their cars. Meanwhile, the lawmakers chop their own and still chop our own,” she said.
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Lack of Accountability Within the Legislature
Ofili questioned the moral posture of lawmakers who appear tough during televised hearings, only to compromise investigations behind closed doors.
“They come on TV to say an MDA did wrong. But who punishes the atrocities within the National Assembly?” she asked.
She added that internal silence is enforced through oaths, preventing staff from exposing irregularities or seeking public redress.
Reactions and Silence from Lawmakers
TJ News Nigeria reached out to the House of Representatives Spokesperson, Akin Rotimi, and his deputy, Philip Agbese, for comment on the allegations. However, as of press time, neither had responded.
The revelations have sparked fierce debates online, with many Nigerians calling for an independent probe into the practices of legislative committees and their engagement with MDAs.
Call for Reform
Ofili, who is reportedly nearing retirement, said she was compelled to speak out for the sake of posterity.
“My mother says she’s not dancing so people will give her money—it’s so they will see me. So I will say what I want to say,” she declared.
Her courageous disclosures have reignited public demand for institutional reforms, greater transparency in the budgeting process, and stronger oversight of lawmakers themselves.
TJ News Nigeria will continue to monitor this developing story and provide updates as more responses and investigations unfold.
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