PARIS OLYMPIC GAMES
Sen. Sumaila Kawu, who represents Kano South senatorial district, has disclosed that his monthly take-home pay exceeds N21 million.
This disclosure comes just a day after the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) revealed that each senator receives a monthly salary and allowances totalling N1.06 million.
In an effort to address the ongoing debate about lawmakers’ monthly salaries, RMAFC Chairman Mr. Mohammed Shehu provided the clarification.
According to Shehu’s disclosure, each lawmaker earns N12.72 million in 12 months, and the Federal Government makes a total expenditure of N1.4 billion annually for all senators.
A breakdown of their monthly earnings reveals that each Senator collects a monthly salary and allowances of N1,063,860, consisting of a basic salary, N168,866:70; motor vehicle fuelling and maintenance allowance of N126,650:00; and personal assistant allowance of N42,216:66.
Others include domestic staff (126,650:00), entertainment (N50,660:00), utilities (N50,660:00), newspapers and periodicals (N25,330:00), wardrobe (N42,216,66:00), house maintenance (N8,443.33:00), and constituency allowance (N422,166:66).
Shehu, in the statement, noted: “The commission also wishes to use this opportunity to state that any allegation regarding other allowance(s) 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.
“To avoid misinformation and misrepresentation of facts capable of misleading citizens and members of the international community, the commission considers it most appropriate and necessary to request Nigerians and any other interested party to avail themselves of the opportunity to access the actual details of the present remuneration package for political, public, and judicial office holders in Nigeria published on its website: www.rmafc.gov.ng.”
In an interview with the British Broadcasting2 Hausa Service on Wednesday, Sen. Kawu revealed that while his basic monthly salary is around N1m, his actual take-home pay is N21m, a significant disparity from the figures provided by the 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 six hundred thousand naira and a little something as salary.”
He noted that there are usually a few deductions by the RMFAC.
The issue of the amount of money received by federal lawmakers has stirred up fresh controversies since last week.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who ruled from 1999 to 2007, scolded federal lawmakers for fixing their own salaries and benefits.
He made the statement during a meeting with six House of Representatives members, led by Rep. Ikenga Ugochinyere, at his Abeokuta residence in Ogun State last Friday.
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).”
Former Senator Shehu Sani, who represented Kaduna Central, had previously revealed that each Senator receives a monthly running cost of N13.5 million in addition to the N750,000 monthly salary specified by the commission.
Persecondnews recalls that the Senate, in a statement on Sunday, refuted the claims by Obasanjo, stating that they were all lies.
Leave a comment