A former lawmaker, Shehu Sani, has reacted to a statement by Senator Sumaila Kawu that he receives N21 million monthly as salaries and allowances.
Sani, who represented Kaduna Central Senatorial District had earlier claimed that senators receive a monthly running cost of ₦13.5m in addition to a ₦750,000 salary.
Reacting to this claim, the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) refuted Sani claim stating that the salary of a senator stands around N1.06 million.
Stating that while RMAFC is constitutionally empowered to determine the salaries and allowances of lawmakers, Sani said the agency lacked the authority to enforce compliance.
However, in a twist of events, a lawmaker of the Nigerian Senate, Sumaila Kawu,, in an interview with BBC Hausa Service said his monthly salary is about N1 million and that by the time deductions are made it hovers around N600,000 monthly.
According to the lawmaker, due to allowances and other exigencies, his total take-home amounts to N21 million. He said this serves as funds needed for the running cost of his office as a senator.
Kawu’s words, “The amount of salary I receive per month is less than N1m, if there are cuts, it comes back to about six hundred thousand naira and a little something as salary.”
The lawmaker also stated that the few deductions on his salary are done by the RMFAC.
Stating that he has been vindicated by Kawu’s interview, Sani in a post on X said, “Yesterday, the RMFAC refuted my statement but I’m vindicated by Senator Kawu Sumaila who confirmed that the monthly alert is N21 million and not N1 million.
RMFAC make una mind yourself,” the former lawmaker added.
Yesterday,the RMFAC refuted my statement,but I’m now vindicated by Senator Kawu Sumaila who confirmed that the monthly alert is N21million and not N1million.RMFAC make una mind yourself.
— Senator Shehu Sani (@ShehuSani) August 14, 2024
The controversy surrounding the salaries of lawmakers started after former president Olusegun Obasanjo alleged that members of the National Assembly fixed their salaries.
Obasanjo also said that the present crop of lawmakers is being bribed by the executive.
According to the former president, Nigeria would fail to progress unless leaders and the people embrace “moral rearmament.”
