Many Nigerians are still wondering what the Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Mohammed Shehu, intended to achieve when he told Nigerians and the international community that each of the 109 Nigerian senators receives a total of N 1.06 million in salary and allowances monthly.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Mohammed said, “A closer look at the monthly entitlement of senators reveals that each senator collects a monthly salary and allowances of the sum of N1, 063,860 consisting of basic salary of N168,866.
“Motor vehicle fuelling and maintenance allowance N126,650; personal assistant N42,216, domestic staff, 126,650; entertainment, N50,660, utilities, N50,660; newspapers/periodicals, N25,330; wardrobe, N42,216,66; house maintenance, N8,443.33, and constituency allowance, N422,166.”
According to him, it is instructive to note that some allowances are regular, while others are non-regular.
He added that regular allowances were paid with basic salary, while non-regular allowances were paid as at when due.
For instance, furniture allowance which is N6, 079,200, and severance gratuity also N6,079,200, are paid once in every tenure.
“Also, vehicle allowance which is N8,105,600, the payment is optional. It is a loan which the beneficiary has to pay before leaving office,” Mohammed explained.
In what appears as a veiled attack on those who alleged that the federal lawmakers earn jumbo pay, Mohammed added that “any allegation regarding other allowances being enjoyed by any political, public office holder outside those provided in the remuneration amendment Act, 2008 should be explained by the person who made the allegation.
“This is to avoid misinformation and misrepresentation of facts capable of misleading citizens and members of the international community,” he added.
“If it’s indeed true that a Senator collects a monthly allowance of N21 million, and minimum wage for workers is N70, 000, then something is definitely wrong with the country”
With this statement, Mohammed was insinuating that those who alleged that the senators earn outrageous monthly pay were spreading ‘misinformation’ and ‘misrepresentation of facts.’
“The commission considers it most appropriate and necessary to request Nigerians to access the actual details of the present remuneration package for political, public and judicial office holders in Nigeria published on its website,” he added.
Mohammed’s veiled attempt to hoodwink Nigerians with a false claim that each senator goes home monthly with a meagre salary was torn to shreds by the Senator representing Kano South, Sumaila Kawu, who revealed that he earns over N21 million monthly as a total take-home package.
Kawu had in an interview with the BBC, Hausa Service, on Wednesday morning disclosed that his monthly salary is about N1million, but his total take-home was N21million, representing a wide margin from figures quoted by RMFAC.
Kawu said, “The amount of salary I receive per month is less than N1 million, if there are cuts, it comes back to about N600, 0000 and a little something as salary.”
He noted that there are usually a few deductions by the RMFAC.
Corroborating Kawu’s claim on the monthly earnings of federal lawmakers, Senator Shehu Sani on Wednesday reiterated his earlier statement that he received N13 million as a member of the 8th Senate, adding that the current members of the 10th Senate receive N21 million each monthly.
Sani, who spoke on a television programme, insisted that the RMAFC was being economical with the truth.
He said, “I was a Senator and I believe I had correct knowledge about what actually happened at that time and I believe is what is happening now. Well, RMAFC was just playing with figures, they were specific in saying this is the salary of Senators and then they went on to give a breakdown of N20 million which they said was what every senator earned in four years.
“But I think they are being economical with the truth and I think I understand their fears in terms of telling the truth when they know what is actually happening.
“Before I came to this interview I was going through the papers and I saw a statement credited to one of the Senators from Kano, Distinguished Senator Kawu Ismaila, who confirmed what I said about Senators particularly of this set receiving up to N21 million monthly.
“During my time, I was in the Senate and I was pricked by my conscience as an activist who went to the Senate to unveil what has been made secret for over two decades.
“I believe that taxpayers and Nigerians in general have the right to know how much their legislators are earning and how much they have actually been given. I went on as a serving Senator then to disclose what I do receive monthly, what is credited into my account at that time and it was N13.5 million,” Senator Sani, who left the Senate in May 2019, explained.
The controversy over the amount of money received by federal lawmakers was stirred up penultimate week by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, while receiving in audience, six members of the House of Representatives, who visited him.
During the parley, Obasanjo chided the federal lawmakers for fixing their salaries and emoluments.
Obasanjo said, “In your case, with all due respect, you’re not supposed to fix your salaries. But you decide what you pay yourself, the allowances that you give yourselves (including) newspaper allowances.
“You give yourselves all sorts of things, and you know it is not right. It is immoral, (yet) you are doing it, the Senate is doing it, and you are beating your chests about it. In some cases, the executive gives you what you’re not entitled to. You all got N200 million (each).”
Though the Senate had in a statement refuted the claims by Obasanjo stating that they were lies, the allegation of fixing jumbo salaries and allowances have been confirmed by Senators Kawu and Sani, despite the attempt by RMAFC boss to deceive Nigerians.
The remuneration of Nigerian lawmakers has long been a contentious issue, sparking debates across the country and beyond.
Despite Nigeria’s status as a developing nation grappling with significant socio-economic challenges, its lawmakers have been rated as being among the highest-paid in the world.
This disparity has led to widespread criticism and accusations of insensitivity and corruption, as the gap between the political elite and the average Nigerian continues to widen.
Nigeria operates a bicameral legislature consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
The 469 lawmakers—109 senators and 360 House of Representatives members—are tasked with creating laws, representing their constituencies, and performing oversight functions.
However, over the years, the focus has increasingly shifted from their legislative duties to the massive financial rewards associated with their positions.
The secrecy surrounding the earnings of the lawmakers has continued to fuel public outcry and condemnation.
In the eighth Assembly, the controversy was stirred by Senator Shehu Sani of Kaduna Central, who publicly disclosed that each senator collects a monthly running cost of N13.5 million in addition to the monthly N750,000 prescribed by the commission.
The remuneration package for Nigerian lawmakers is composed of several components, including basic salary, constituency allowances, furniture allowances, hardship allowances, and other perks.
The basic salary, while substantial, is only a small fraction of the total package.
The allowances, many of which are seen as unnecessary or inflated, make up the bulk of the earnings.
For instance, lawmakers receive a “wardrobe allowance”, despite already having access to substantial funds for their official duties.
The “hardship allowance” has also been particularly contentious, as many Nigerians question what hardships lawmakers face that justify such compensation.
Additionally, the “constituency allowance”, has often been criticised for lack of transparency and accountability, with little to show for the huge sums allocated.
An analysis of the 2024 budget shows that 109 members of the Senate will receive N8.67bn in salaries and allowances, while 360 members in the House of Representatives receive N24.43bn in salaries and allowances.
A breakdown reveals that the annual basic salary of the President of the Senate is N2.48m each year (about N9.92m in four years), while that of the Deputy President is N2.31m yearly (about N9.24m in four years).
Out of the 19 allowances assigned to the Senate President and his deputy, only five were assigned a specific figure.
The disclosed allowances include constituency allowance (250 per cent of the basic annual salary), duty tour allowance (N50, 000 per night), estacode ($1,300 per night), recess (10 percent of the basic annual salary), and severance gratuity (300 per cent of the basic annual salary).
The allowances of the Senate President will amount to about N33.29m, which includes a N6.21m annual constituency allowance, N248,424.25 annual recess allowance, and N7.45m for severance gratuity, which is paid at the end of the tenure.
The allowances of the Deputy Senate President are expected to cost the nation about N30.94m, which includes N5.77m annual constituency allowance, N230,916.70 annual recess allowance, and N6.93m for severance gratuity.
Other senators receive N2.03m as a basic annual salary (a total of N8.12 million in four years) and a total allowance of N72,137,440 for each of them.
The salaries of the 107 senators will cost N868.3m, while their allowances will cost N7.72bn.
In the section for the salaries and allowances of other senators, out of the 20 allowances mentioned, only 15 were disclosed.
Similarly, the Speaker of the House receives an annual salary of N2.48m (about N9.92 million in four years), while the Deputy Speaker receives N2.29m (about N9.16m in four years).
The allowances of the Speaker are about N18.33m, which includes N2.48 million annually for constituency allowance, N247,711 annual recess allowance, and N7.43 million for severance gratuity.
The allowances of the Deputy Speaker were pegged at about N17.16m, which includes N2.29m annually for constituency allowance, N288,703 for recess, and N6.86m for severance gratuity.
Other members of the House of Representatives receive N1.99m each as a basic annual salary (a total of N7.94m in four years), while each receives N58.76m as an allowance.
The salaries of the 358 House of Representatives members will cost N2.84bn, while their allowances are estimated at N21.04bn.
These extravagant earnings have not gone unnoticed by the public and there has been consistent backlash from various quarters, with many Nigerians expressing outrage at the disparity between the earnings of their elected representatives and the average income of citizens.
Our remuneration in line with cost of governance – Lawmakers
In response to the criticisms, Nigerian lawmakers have offered various justifications for their pay.
One of the main arguments is that their remuneration is in line with the cost of governance and reflects the demands of their offices.
The National Assembly has also consistently argued that its budget is less than one per cent of the general annual budget.
The Nigerian Senate, while refuting Obasanjo’s N200m claim, described the allegations as an attempt to “crucify the legislature by the centurions of political hypocrisy.”
In a statement, Senate Spokesman Yemi Adaramodu (APC, Ekiti South) emphasised that no Senator has received any financial patronage from the Presidency.
He clarified that the constituency projects often linked to the legislature are merely suggested and nominated by Senators, following practices common in other democracies worldwide.
The Senate stressed that it only receives the salary allocated to it by the RMFAC, in strict accordance with constitutional provisions and challenged anyone with credible evidence to present contrary facts.
Similarly, the Senate disowned Kawu’s N21m monthly allowance running cost.
Adaramodu clarified that running costs are not unique to the legislature and are used for the operation of their offices.
The Senate spokesman further noted that these funds cover expenses for constituency office staff.
Similarly, the House of Representatives also corroborated the defence of the Red Chamber.
Deputy Spokesperson, Philip Agbese, said the 10th House under the leadership of Tajudeen Abbas has been largely accountable to the people and has remained a torchbearer of the parliament.
Allowances are scandalous – Nigerians fume
The Methodist Archbishop of Umuahia Ecclesiastical Diocese, Archbishop Raphael Opoko, said that the allowances called for concern if indeed senators go home with such a jumbo allowance every month especially at a time many Nigerians could not afford their daily meal.
According to him, “if it’s indeed true that a Senator collects a monthly allowance of N21 million, and minimum wage for workers is N70, 000, then something is definitely wrong with the country.
Our hospitals are not working; the economy is collapsing. Leaders should be thinking of how to fix the country, and not how to collect jumbo allowances. This casts doubt on the quality of persons we have as leaders”.
A former chairman of the Civil Liberties Organisation, Bayelsa State, Algoa Morris, said, “Those who have been given the privilege to man public offices have turned such to their cocoa farms. Today Nigeria does not have a national carrier, after they milked and grounded the Nigerian Airways. The NNPCL too is wobbling.
Nigeria should do something about this fleecing of the nation by political office holders. Legislators can work on a part-time basis or their number can be reduced and allowances slashed drastically.
If these people in the National Assembly are patriotic, they should not even take N10m in the name of allowances. It is very sad, unfortunate and unacceptable.”
Elder Joseph Ambakederimo, Convener South South Reawakening Group said, “It is preposterous that the salary of public officers is being shrouded in secrecy. What are they hiding that is not an open secret already?
It is insensitive for a set of people to appropriate such a humongous amount as allowances. These outrageous salaries and allowances drain our limited resources at a time when our finances are low. Therefore the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission should be bold and prosecute those who have gone out of their way to appropriate resources outside of the law to themselves.”
Furoebi Akene, chairman, Centre for Environmental Preservation and Development, said, “Nigeria is known to be notoriously and fantastically corrupt.
They assume every other person is a fool to believe them. They always say the Nigerian populace is toothless who can talk but cannot bite.
Can someone spend hundreds of millions of naira or even over a billion naira to contest elections just to go and earn a million naira a month for four years? The RMAFC cannot tell Nigerians the truth because they are partners in crime with the National Assembly and others.”
Speaker of Arewa Youth Assembly, Mohammed Salihu Danlami said, “It is so sad today that our elected representatives have abused the trust we invested in them by their selfishness. It is quite disheartening to know that those we elected to represent us at the Senate and the House of Representatives and Houses of Assemblies across states, now represent only themselves and their families.
“Our Senators and Rep Members should as a matter of urgency, show some solidarity by cutting down their bogus allowances so as to free funds for other human capital projects that can better the lives of the people they represent.”
The Middle Belt Forum blamed a governance system that thrives on compromises and corruption for the humongous allowances Nigerian lawmakers take home in relation to their performances and commitment to duty.
The National President of the MBF, Pogu Bitrus who spoke on the issue in Makurdi, said, “nobody is ready to serve Nigeria, people look for offices just to make money and this is really unfortunate.
“The problem we have is that we have a governance system that has only survived on compromises, corruption and bribery. The executive allows the legislators to do whatever they like, appropriating money for themselves because of the fear that the executive has for the legislature.
“The Revenue Mobilization Commission is supposed to fix salaries, but the lawmakers ignore it and do whatever they feel like and nobody in the executive can do anything about it because the executive wants to survive and to survive it must allow the lawmakers to have their way.
“The only way to tackle this problem is for us to go back to the parliamentary system where the Prime Minister is also a Member of Parliament who doesn’t have to bribe his colleagues to allow him to be a Prime Minister or to do his job. Also, legislation doesn’t have to be a permanent job.”
A human right activist and lawyer, Tope Temokun, said that “All the explosive allowances for public office holders and lawmakers should be scrapped. The first sincerity test for the government is to cut the running cost of governance.
“Corruption won’t go as far as public office holders see public offices as business. The allowances of political office holders drain the country of blood and oxygen for survival. Politicians break the banks to bankroll elections because they see politics as business. The first thing to do is to cut the earnings of political office holders to make it more of selfless service than business.
“All the explosive allowances for public office holders and lawmakers should be scrapped. The first sincerity test for the government is to cut the running cost of governance”
“The citizens groan under the yoke of hunger because the country’s resources are used to subsidize the extravagant lifestyle of those in government through fraudulent allowances being paid to both elected and appointed public office holders. The allowances are scandalous, they should be scrapped. It’s not just the allowances that eat deep into our Commonwealth, but the luxuries of elected public office holders that we fund.
A Constitutional Lawyer, Festus Ogwuche, submitted that RMFAC should be blamed for the confusion in the remuneration of the federal lawmakers, by acting in defiance of 2021 court order.
According to Ogwuche, “there is a subsisting judgment of a Federal High Court, Lagos division presided by Obiozor J in 2021 which compelled the RMAFC to regularly review downward the salaries and allowances of the legislators and bring it in conformity with the economic realities of the day.
“That order of court only re-echoed the Constitutional provisions alongside the Commission’s mandate under its establishment. Justice Obiozor had rightly stated in the judgment that given the level of extreme poverty ravaging the land, the failure of the Commission to review the salaries and allowances of the legislators is a gross violation of the Constitution.
“As at the date of the judgment, the commission had failed to make any such review for more than ten years. Even upon that well thought out decision, the Commission remained indifferent to the clear orders of the court.
“That’s where the crux of the matter lies. Having failed to abide by the decision of the court in the direction of the downward review of the emoluments we now have a situation where the total take home package for the average lawmaker could get to as high as N21m monthly aside the N1m salary.”
The Acting National Chairman of the Socialist Party of Nigeria, Abiodun Bamgboye said, “It is a grave injustice for lawmakers to thrive in luxury while the majority of Nigerians struggle to survive.
“A government that fails to address the needs of its people is a government that has lost its way. We demand accountability now. Reform is not just necessary, it is imperative. We need a legislative system that reflects the values and struggles of the people.
“The growing outrage among Nigerians is a powerful signal. The people are tired of a system that prioritizes wealth over welfare.”
