Senator Sumaila Kawu, the legislator for Kano South, disclosed that his monthly take-home pay totals more than N21 million.
This information was made available just 24 hours after the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission reported that the monthly pay and allowances received by each of the 109 senators in the upper house equal N1.06 million.
Mohammed Shehu, the chairman of the RMAFC, made this statement to provide explanation in light of recent disputes regarding the true monthly salary of each MP.
According to Shehu’s revelation, every senator would make N12.72 million in salary over the course of a year, with the federal government paying N1.4 billion in total for them.
According to a breakdown of their monthly income, each senator receives N1,063,860 in salary and benefits each month. This amount is made up of N168,866:70 for basic pay, N126,650:00 for motor vehicle fuel and maintenance, and N42,216:66 for a personal assistant.
Additional expenses include N126,650:00 for domestic staff; N50,660:00 for entertainment; N50,660:00 for utilities; N25,330:00 for newspapers and periodicals; N42,216,66:00 for clothing; N8,443.33:00 for house upkeep; and N422,166:66 for constituency allowance.
The commission also wants to take this opportunity to state that any allegation regarding any other allowance(s) being enjoyed by any political, public office holder outside those provided in the Remuneration (Amendment) Act, 2008 should be explained by the person making the allegation, Shehu said in the statement.
“The commission considers it most appropriate and necessary to request Nigerians and any other interested party to avail themselves of the opportunity 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 in order to avoid misinformation and misrepresentation of facts capable of misleading citizens and members of the international community.”
In contrast to the RMFAC data, Senator Kawu said in an interview with British Broadcasting Hausa Service on Wednesday morning that, although receiving a salary of approximately N1 million per month, his total take-home pay was N21 million.
“My monthly salary is less than N1 million; if there are any deductions, it amounts to roughly 600,000 naira plus a small amount as salary,” Kawu stated.
He mentioned that the RMFAC typically deducts a small amount.
Since last week, the controversy surrounding the amount of money received by federal MPs has resurfaced.
Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, the former president of Ogun State from 1999 to 2007, was chastised by federal lawmakers for fixing their salaries and emoluments last Friday during an audience with six members of the House of Representatives, led by Ikenga Ugochinyere.
Obasanjo stated, “In your case, with all due respect, you’re not supposed to fix your salaries,” during the debate. However, you determine how much you pay yourself and the allowances you grant yourself, such as newspaper allowances.
You know it’s wrong, but you give yourselves all kinds of things. Even if it is unethical, you and the Senate continue to do it and are kicking yourself over it. Sometimes the executive offers you something to which you have no right. Each of you received N200 million.
Furthermore, Shehu Sani, a former senator from Kaduna Central, had revealed in public that each senator receives a monthly running cost of N13.5 million on top of the N750,000 monthly allotment set by the commission.
Recall that the Senate rejected Obasanjo’s assertions in a statement on Sunday, saying they were untrue.
