Kano Lawmaker Discloses N21 Million Monthly Take-Home Pay
Senator Sumaila Kawu, who represents Kano South, has disclosed that his monthly take-home pay exceeds N21 million. This announcement comes just a day after the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) reported that each senator receives a combined total of N1.06 million in salary and allowances each month.
Mohammed Shehu, Chairman of the RMAFC, provided this clarification in response to ongoing debates about the actual earnings of lawmakers. According to Shehu’s figures, each senator would accumulate N12.72 million annually, leading to a total annual expenditure of N1.4 billion by the Federal Government for all senators.
The detailed breakdown of monthly earnings includes a basic salary of N168,866.70, along with allowances for vehicle maintenance (N126,650.00), personal assistants (N42,216.66), domestic staff (N126,650.00), entertainment (N50,660.00), utilities (N50,660.00), newspapers and periodicals (N25,330.00), wardrobe (N42,216.66), house maintenance (N8,443.33), and constituency allowance (N422,166.66), totaling N1,063,860.
Shehu emphasized that any claims regarding additional allowances outside those specified in the Remuneration (Amendment) Act, 2008 should be clarified by the individual making the claim. He urged Nigerians and interested parties to consult the RMAFC’s website at www.rmafc.gov.ng for accurate details on the remuneration packages for public office holders.
In contrast, the Kano Lawmaker Senator Kawu, in an interview with the British Broadcasting Hausa Service on Wednesday morning, revealed that while his official monthly salary is around N1 million, his total monthly income reaches N21 million, a significant discrepancy from the RMAFC figures. Kawu explained that his salary, after deductions, is approximately N600,000, but additional sources contribute to the higher total.
The issue of lawmakers’ compensation has generated renewed debate recently. Last week, former President Olusegun Obasanjo criticized lawmakers during a meeting with six members of the House of Representatives led by Ikenga UgoChinyere in Abeokuta, Ogun State. Obasanjo condemned the practice of lawmakers setting their own salaries and allowances, labeling it as immoral and excessive.
Additionally, former Kaduna Central Senator Shehu Sani had previously revealed that each senator receives a monthly running cost of N13.5 million, on top of the N750,000 monthly allocation set by the RMAFC.
The Senate responded to Obasanjo’s comments on Sunday, denouncing them as falsehoods.
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