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EACH SENATOR GOES HOME WITH N21M EVERY MONTH – SENATOR KAWU
Senator Sumaila Kawu, representing Kano South, has revealed that he earns a total monthly take-home package of over N21 million.
He disclosed this less than 24 hours after the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) stated that each senator in the Nigerian upper legislative chamber receives N1.06 million monthly in salary and allowances.
The RMAFC Chairman, Mohammed Shehu, had provided this clarification in response to ongoing debates and controversies surrounding the actual earnings of Nigerian lawmakers.
Shehu emphasised that according to official figures, each of the 109 senators earns N12.72 million annually, which would translate to a total expenditure of approximately N1.4 billion by the Federal Government each year for all the senators combined.
However, in an interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation’s Hausa Service on Wednesday morning, Senator Kawu provided a different perspective.
He acknowledged that while his official monthly salary stands at about N1 million, his overall monthly take-home package amounts to N21 million.
This figure represents a significant departure from the N1.06 million per month that the RMAFC claims is the total earnings of each senator, including allowances.
Senator Kawu’s revelation has sparked fresh discussions about the financial entitlements of Nigerian lawmakers, especially in the context of the wide gap between his disclosed earnings and the official figures provided by the RMAFC.
The senator’s comments have led many to question the transparency of the remuneration system for legislators and have reignited debates about the cost of governance in Nigeria.
The RMAFC, which is responsible for determining the salaries and allowances of public office holders, has been under pressure to clarify the exact amount Nigerian lawmakers earn, particularly in the wake of growing public concern about the high cost of maintaining the National Assembly.
The commission’s clarification aimed to address these concerns by providing what it claims are the accurate figures for senators’ earnings.
However, Senator Kawu’s statements suggest that there may be additional, undisclosed allowances or benefits that significantly increase the take-home pay of senators beyond what is officially reported.
Senator Kawu said, “My monthly salary is less than N1 million.
“After deductions, the figure comes down to a little over N600,000.
“Given the increase effected, in the Senate, each Senator gets N21million every month as running cost.”
