By Uzair Adam
Senator Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila, representing Kano South in the National Assembly, disclosed that his monthly take-home package amounts to over ₦21 million.
This revelation came just 24 hours after the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) stated that each of the 109 senators in the Nigerian Senate receives a monthly salary and allowances totalling ₦1.06 million.
The RMAFC Chairman, Mohammed Shehu, had clarified that senators’ official earnings include a basic salary of ₦168,866.70, along with various allowances such as ₦126,650.00 for motor vehicle fueling and maintenance, ₦42,216.66 for personal assistant, and other minor allowances, bringing the total to ₦1,063,860.00 per month.
However, in an interview with BBC Hausa, Senator Kawu revealed a stark difference in the figures, explaining that while his monthly salary is indeed around ₦1 million, additional administrative fees and allowances he receives as a senator bring his total monthly earnings to ₦21 million.
According to Kawu, this amount covers various office running costs, including domestic travel and newspaper purchases.
The controversy surrounding the earnings of Nigerian federal lawmakers has been reignited, especially after former President Olusegun Obasanjo criticized the practice of lawmakers setting their salaries and allowances, labelling it as immoral.
Similarly, a former senator from Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani, had previously disclosed that senators receive a monthly running cost of ₦13.5 million in addition to their salaries.
The debate continues as Nigerians scrutinize the actual earnings of their representatives in the National Assembly.