"Kano Senator Sumaila Kawu reveals his monthly take-home exceeds N21 million, sparking renewed controversy over lawmakers' earnings in Nigeria." mynewslive
Senator Sumaila Kawu, representing Kano South, has revealed that his total monthly take-home pay exceeds N21 million. This disclosure comes shortly after the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) stated that each of Nigeria’s 109 senators receives a monthly salary and allowance package totaling approximately N1.06 million.
RMAFC Chairman, Mohammed Shehu, clarified in response to ongoing debates about the actual earnings of lawmakers, stating that the total annual salary and allowances for a senator amounts to N12.72 million, with the federal government spending N1.4 billion annually on all senators combined.
The breakdown of a senator’s monthly earnings, according to RMAFC, includes a basic salary of N168,866.70, motor vehicle fueling and maintenance allowance of N126,650.00, personal assistant allowance of N42,216.66, and other allowances for domestic staff, entertainment, utilities, wardrobe, and constituency duties.
Despite these figures, Senator Kawu, in an interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Hausa Service, revealed that while his official monthly salary is just under N1 million, his total take-home pay, which includes other forms of compensation, amounts to N21 million. Kawu explained that after certain deductions, his actual salary could be as low as N600,000, but the overall package brings it to the higher amount.
This revelation adds fuel to the ongoing controversy over lawmakers’ remuneration. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo recently criticized federal lawmakers for setting their own salaries and allowances, calling the practice immoral. Obasanjo’s remarks came during a meeting with members of the House of Representatives in Abeokuta, where he condemned the allowances lawmakers receive, including a reported N200 million given to each senator.
Additionally, former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, previously disclosed that each senator receives a monthly running cost of N13.5 million, in addition to the N750,000 salary prescribed by the RMAFC.
In response to these allegations, the Senate issued a statement on Sunday refuting Obasanjo’s claims, labeling them as false.
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