In a startling revelation, Senator Sumaila Kawu, who represents Kano South, disclosed that his monthly earnings exceed N21 million, a staggering figure that has raised eyebrows across the nation.
Speaking candidly in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service, Kawu explained that while the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) officially sets the salary at N1 million, after deductions, he takes home only around N600,000. However, this figure belies the true extent of his income, as various allowances inflate his total take-home pay to an astonishing N21 million each month.
This declaration comes just a day after the RMAFC claimed that the 109 senators in the upper chamber earn a mere N1.06 million in salary and allowances—a statement that has sparked further controversy regarding the financial transparency of lawmakers. RMAFC Chairman Mohammed Shehu attempted to clarify the situation but only added fuel to the fire.
Kawu stated, “The official salary is less than N1 million, with deductions bringing it down to about N600,000. Yet, each senator is allocated N21 million monthly for office running expenses.” He detailed that this comprehensive package covers various allowances, including office maintenance, newspaper expenses, local travel, and more.
The topic of lawmakers’ compensation has ignited fierce debates in Nigeria, especially after former President Olusegun Obasanjo criticized the National Assembly members for their lucrative allowances during a meeting in Abeokuta. He lamented, “You decide what you pay yourselves, including newspaper allowances. You give yourselves all sorts of things, and it is immoral.” Obasanjo’s comments echoed the widespread discontent among the public regarding how legislators manage their financial compensation, with many feeling that their entitlements are unjustifiable.
In defense, lawmakers pointed to RMAFC as the body responsible for setting their allowances, yet the controversy remains unresolved. Just a few years prior, former Senator Shehu Sani revealed that each senator in the 8th Senate collected a monthly running cost of N13.5 million in addition to the N750,000 stipulated by RMAFC, illuminating the shadowy realm of legislative pay.
