14th August, 2024
By Ayorinde Olaokun/Abuja
Sumaila Kawu, the Senator representing Kano South Senatorial District on Monday told BBC Hausa Service that he receives over N21m monthly as a total take-home package.
While blowing the lead on Nigerian lawmakers’ humongous pay, Kawu said though his salary is less than N1 million monthly, but each Senator also receives N21 million as allowance monthly.
He said the N21 million is meant for the running of his office.
Kawu said, “The amount of salary received per month is less than N1 million. If there are cuts, it comes back to about N600,000. In the senate, each senator is given N21 million every month as the cost of running his office.”
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Recall that former President Olusegun Obasanjo had recently brought controversies about the salaries and allowances of National Assembly members back to the front burner in Abeokuta, Ogun State, while receiving some House of Representatives members led by Ikenga UgoChinyere.
The former President had accused the lawmakers of paying themselves allowances that suit their fancy.
“You give yourselves all sorts of things, and you know it is not right. It is immoral, (yet) you are doing it, the Senate is doing it, and you are beating your chests about it. In some cases, the executive gives you what you’re not entitled to. You all got N200 million (each).”
However, the lawmakers had responded saying RAMFC fixes their allowances.
Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, had also disclosed that each Senator collects a monthly running cost of N13.5m in addition to the monthly N750,000 prescribed by the RFMAC while he was in the Senate from 2015-2019.
In reaction to the controversies, yhe Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) in a statement signed by the chairman of RMAFC, Mr Mohammad Shehu in Abuja on Tuesday.
said each senator collects a monthly salary and allowances of the sum of N1,063,860 consisting of basic salary of N168,866.
“Motor vehicle fuelling and maintenance allowance N126,650; personal assistant N42,216, domestic staff, 126,650; entertainment, N50,660, utilities, N50,660; newspapers/periodicals, N25,330, wardrobe, N42,216,66; house maintenance, N8,443.33, and constituency allowance, N422,166.
According to the chairman, it is instructive to note that some allowances are regular, while others are non-regular.
He said that regular allowances were paid with basic salary, while non-regular allowances were paid as at when due.
“For instance, furniture allowance which is N6,079,200, and severance gratuity also N6,079,200, are paid once in every tenure.
“Also, vehicle allowance which is N8,105,600, the payment is optional. It is a loan which the beneficiary has to pay before leaving office.
“It is important to also emphasise that with exception of some few political, public office holders such as the President, Vice President, Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representative, all public and legislative officers are no longer provided with housing as was the case in the past.
“The commission also wishes to use this opportunity to state that any allegation regarding other allowances being enjoyed by any political, public office holder outside those provided in the remuneration amendment Act, 2008 should be explained by the person who made the allegation.
“This is to avoid misinformation and misrepresentation of facts capable of misleading citizens and members of the international community.
“The commission considers it most appropriate and necessary to request Nigerians to access the actual details of the present remuneration package for political, public and judicial office holders in Nigeria published on its website: www.rmafc.gov.ng.”
