Nigerian Senators’ Monthly Pay Hits ₦2 Billion

What is the current monthly salary of Nigerian Senators? – Recent investigation suggest that the combined monthly compensation for 99 non-principal officers of the Nigerian Senate exceeds N2 billion.

Senator Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila (NNPP, Kano) confirmed on Wednesday that he receives approximately N21 million each month for his role representing the Kano South Senatorial District in the 10th National Assembly.

However, he stated that he is unaware of the salaries allocated to the Senate president, the deputy Senate president, or the eight other principal officers within the upper chamber of the Nigerian parliament.

Kawu’s disclosure estimates the total monthly remuneration for all 99 non-principal officers at N2.079 billion.

The present principal officers of the 10th Senate include: President Godswill Akpabio; Deputy President Jibrin Barau; Majority Leader Opeyemi Bamidele; Deputy Majority Leader Lola Ashiru; Chief Whip Tahir Monguno; Deputy Chief Whip Nwebonyi Peter Onyeka; Minority Leader Abba Moro; Deputy Minority Leader Akogun Lere Oyewumi; Minority Whip Osita Ngwu; and Deputy Minority Whip Rufai Hanga.

The salaries of the National Assembly’s presiding officers remain undisclosed, with numerous lawmakers previously expressing ignorance regarding their monthly earnings and the number of aides permitted for these positions.

According to Daily Trust, recent efforts to obtain a detailed account of their monthly salaries were unsuccessful, as Senate spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu did not respond to calls or messages seeking information about the principal officers’ earnings.

Don’t miss out on any real-time information. Join our WhatsApp group to stay updated.

CLICK HERE TO JOIN

Recent controversies have arisen concerning the actual salaries and allowances of federal lawmakers in Nigeria.

1. Recent statements from former parliamentarians, including Senator Shehu Sani and representatives Muhammad Sani Zoro and Sergius Ogun, have highlighted varying figures regarding the emoluments of lawmakers. They have also urged current members of the 10th National Assembly to disclose their earnings publicly.

Ogun, who served as the representative for the Esan North-East/Esan South-East Constituency from 2015 to 2023, revealed last week that each member of the House of Representatives received N8.5 million monthly for operational expenses during his tenure.

In contrast, Sani Zorro, who represented the Gumel/Maigatari/Sule Tankarkar/Gagarawa Federal Constituency of Jigawa State in the House of Representatives from 2015 to 2019, has called on current lawmakers to reveal their financial entitlements.

Senator Sani, who was a member of the Senate from 2015 to 2019, stated that each senator received a monthly operational cost of N13.5 million, in addition to the N750,000.00 monthly allowance set by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).

Furthermore, former President Olusegun Obasanjo has recently condemned federal lawmakers for allegedly determining their own salaries, labeling this practice as “immoral.”

In addressing Obasanjo’s allegations, Senate spokesman Yemi Adaramodu maintained that members of the National Assembly receive only the amounts designated to them by the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).

In response to Senator Sani’s assertion, M. B. Shehu, the Chairman of RMAFC, stated on Tuesday that each senator receives a monthly salary and allowances totaling N1,063,860.

However, the RMAFC chairman emphasized that the commission lacks the constitutional authority to enforce adherence to the proper execution of lawmakers’ remuneration packages. He noted, “This gap is currently being addressed by the National Assembly.”

NIGERIAN SENATORS MONTHLY RUNNING COST
In a twist of event, contrary to the RMAFC’s position, Senator Kawu Sumaila, in an interview on BBC Hausa on Wednesday, said that he receives about N21 million monthly.

Kawu, a former legislative aide to former President Muhammadu Buhari, said: “The amount that salary that each senator receives per month is less than N1 million. If there are cuts, it comes back to about N600,000.

“In the Senate, each senator is given N21 million every month as the cost of running his office”, he said.

Senator Sumaila stated that the N21 million allocated to each senator encompasses all their activities, which include domestic travel, the acquisition of daily newspapers, and various other responsibilities.

Former President Obasanjo, during a meeting in Abeokuta, Ogun State, with six members of the House of Representatives led by Ikenga Ugochinyere, accused federal lawmakers of determining their own salaries and allowances. This assertion has been refuted by both chambers individually.

“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),” Obasanjo had alleged.