A report reveals that 109 senators collectively earn N1.4 billion annually in salaries. This figure highlights the significant expenditure on legislative salaries in the country.
According to the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, every member of the upper chamber, which includes 109 senators in total, earns a combined sum totaling N1.06m on a monthly basis for salary as well as allowances.
In response to recent controversies surrounding the actual monthly salaries of lawmakers, it provided clarification on this matter.
Each lawmaker receives an annual salary of N12.72m, resulting in the Federal Government’s total expenditure of N1.4bn for all senators per year.
On Tuesday in Abuja, the statement was personally signed by Mohammed Shehu, the Chairman of RMAFC.
Their monthly earnings can be broken down into a salary and allowances totaling N1,063,860. This comprises of a basic salary of N168,866:70, motor vehicle fuelling and maintenance allowance amounting to N126 650:00 as well as personal assistant payment worth N42,216:66 per month for each senator.
Additional expenses consist of household help for N126,650.00; entertainment costs worth N50,660.00; utility bills amounting to N50,660:00;; subscriptions for newspapers and periodicals totaling up toN25,330:00 ; wardrobe expenditures costing N42 ,216 .66 : 0O;; house maintenance fees adding up to N8 ,443 .33 : OO.; as well as a constituency allowance of N422166:66
According to the statement, it should be noted that certain allowances are categorized as either regular or non-regular. Regular ones are disbursed concurrently with the basic salary on a consistent basis while payment for non-regular types is processed when it’s due.
However, Shehu explained that the enforcement of lawmakers’ remuneration package cannot be carried out by RMAFC due to lack of constitutional authority.
He stated that the National Assembly is addressing this gap.
According to Shehu, housing benefits that were previously extended to other public and legislative officers have been discontinued. This means that only the President, Vice President, Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives can avail such perks now.
The commission would like to take this chance to clarify that if any political or public office holder is enjoying allowances other than those stated in the Remuneration (Amendment) Act of 2008, they should be accountable for explaining such allegations.
The commission believes that it is crucial to prevent the spread of false information and inaccurate representation of facts, which could deceive citizens and people around the world. Therefore, in order to provide transparency on the matter, Nigerians as well as any other concerned individuals are urged by the statement to visit www.rmafc.gov.ng for precise details about remuneration packages offered to political leaders, public officials and judiciary officers in Nigeria.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s recent remarks suggesting that members of the National Assembly set their own salaries was responded to by the Senate on Sunday.
Yemi Adaramodu, the Senate’s spokesman, dared anyone who had convincing proof to contradict this assertion and dismissed the notion that the National Assembly establishes its pay as “cruel and diabolical.”
According to Adaramodu, the Senate’s salaries are determined solely by the RMAFC in accordance with constitutional provisions.
The ex-leader, Obasanjo, who was in office from May 1999 until May 2007, spoke out against the tradition of legislators dictating their own compensation. He deemed it “unethical” and advised that salary and allowance structures be delegated to the RMAFC instead.
