A Nigerian-born United States legislator representing Albany County in the 7th District of New York, Beroro Efekoro, has described the salaries and allowances of members of the National Assembly as outrageous.
Beroro stated this in a statement in New York on Thursday, while reacting to the controversy surrounding the salaries and allowances payable to members of the National Assembly of Nigeria.
The claim that members of the National Assembly fixed their salaries reportedly surfaced during a visit by some members of the House of Representatives to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, sparking widespread public concern.
The Senate, on Sunday, refuted the claim that National Assembly members fixed their own salaries and went home with huge pay.
However, according to a statement by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, each Senator collects a monthly salary and allowances of the sum of N1.063m.
In response, the US lawmaker stated that the explanation given by the Commission is just for the sake of formality.
He said, “The one who made the allegations was a former senator and knows how much he was receiving. Even the commission, the person who made the press statement, knows that the breakdown you have provided is what is on paper for the sake of formality.
“The Nigerian government and politicians continue to push Nigerians to the wall but forget that Nigerians never forget. Nigerians only let things slide for as long as we can bear.”
The lawmaker urged Nigerians to support the administration of President Bola Tinubu in order to address the challenges facing the country.
Efekoro also warned the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, to stop intimidating those senators who wish to hold the president accountable to the citizens of Nigeria.
He added, “I still have faith in the administration of President Bola Tinubu, but that the National Assembly should not be a rubber stamp to the President.
“I plead with my fellow Nigerians to give the Tinubu administration more time to take the economy out of the mess created by the Buhari administration. On the other hand, Tinubu’s administration needs to tell Nigerians how much has been saved by the Nigerian government through subsidy removal and how that money has been utilized.
“The administration needs to state their plan for the economy and carry Nigerians along with whatever their intentions are to avert a soon-to-come revolution.”
Senate denies Kawu’s N21m pay for lawmakers claim
Meanwhile, the Senate has refuted claims that lawmakers in the Red Chamber receive N21m in salaries and allowances.
The Senate spokesperson, Yemi Adaramodu (Ekiti South), made this clarification on Thursday in response to statements by Senator Sumaila Kawu.
In an interview with British Broadcasting Corporation Hausa Service on Wednesday, Kawu claimed that he earns a cumulative N21m monthly in salary and allowances.
He also stated that his “monthly salary is less than N1 million. After deductions, the figure comes down to a little over N600, 000.”
He further explained, “Given the increase effected in the Senate, each Senator gets N21 million monthly as running cost.”
In a personally signed statement, Adaramodu emphasised that running costs are distinct from the salary and personal allowances of lawmakers, which the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation, and Fiscal Commission sets.
Earlier, the RMAFC Chairman, Mohammed Shehu, revealed that each Senator receives a monthly salary and allowances totaling N1, 063,860.
Adaramodu clarified that running costs are not unique to the legislature and are used for the operation of their offices.
He stressed that “such funds are retired by relevant officers after being used for official purposes and proof of genuine expenditure.”
He added, “It’s not a personal allowance or salary of the legislator.”
He also noted that these funds cover expenses for constituency office staff.
Expressing concern over the narrative of wasteful spending by parliament, Adaramodu stated, “The Nigerian Senate is an Assembly of accomplished and successful professionals, administrators, and captains of industry, who are not driven by these often touted egregious pecuniary bits, but rather by their patriotic zeal in the nation’s quest to breathe life into Nigeria’s political and socio-economic dry bones.
“For the umpteenth time, the Senate is compelled to respond to obsolete allegations of phantom salaries and personal emoluments spuriously credited to Senators monthly.
“The Revenue Mobilisation Fiscal Allocation Commission, the agency of government that fixes political officials’ salaries and allowances, has duly disclosed the monthly personal take-home of Senators.”
He added, “However, all arms of government and their personnel—governors, ministers, permanent secretaries, Directors-General, state commissioners, and even boards and parastatals, including local government councils—run their activities with running costs, and the National Assembly is no exception.
“The funds referred to by Senator Kawu Sumaila are neither his salary nor personal allowance.”
Adaramodu further explained, “These funds are allocated for the daily operation of Senators’ offices and other statutory officials. They also provide for constituency office staff, oversight functions, and community engagements.
“These funds are not static; they are provided for in the annual budget and must be retired with proof of genuine expenditure. They are not personal allowances or salaries for legislators.”
He concluded, “The National Assembly receives about 1% of the federal budget and has never exceeded this, even in times of widespread financial constraints. The Nigerian Senate is an Assembly of accomplished professionals, administrators, and industry leaders, who are motivated by patriotic zeal, not by financial gain.”
