Senator Sumaila Kawu, representing Kano South, has disclosed that his monthly earnings as a senator amount to over N21 million.
In an interview with the BBC Hausa Service, Kawu explained that while the official salary fixed by the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation, and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) stands at N1 million, deductions reduce this figure to approximately N600,000.
Advertorial
However, when various allowances are factored in, the total take-home pay rises to N21 million per month.
These allowances cover expenses such as office running costs, local travel, and newspapers.
Kawu’s revelation comes in the wake of a statement by RMAFC Chairman, Mohammed Shehu, who insisted that each senator officially receives a total of N1.06 million in salary and allowances per month, a claim that has sparked significant public debate.
Advertorial
The controversy surrounding lawmakers’ earnings has been ongoing, with former President Olusegun Obasanjo recently criticizing the National Assembly members for what he described as self-serving practices in determining their pay.
During a meeting with House of Representatives members led by Ikenga Ugochinyere in Abeokuta, Obasanjo accused them of fixing their salaries and allowances, which he deemed immoral.
Advertorial
The debate over the earnings of federal lawmakers was first brought to light when former Kaduna Central Senator Shehu Sani revealed that each senator in the 8th Senate received a monthly running cost of N13.5 million, in addition to a salary of N750,000.
The recent disclosure by Senator Kawu only adds fuel to the ongoing controversy over the actual earnings of Nigeria’s lawmakers.
