“My Allowance Is N21Million Monthly” – Senator Sumaila

Senator Kawu Sumaila

The actual salary and allowances of federal lawmakers has continued to generate controversy.

This followed the claim by Senator Abdurrahman Kawu Sumaila (NNPP– Kano South) he earns N21 million in allowances every month apart from the monthly salary of about 1million.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo recently accused members of the National Assembly of fixing bogus salaries and allowances for themselves in contravention of extant laws.

Senator Shehu Sani who represented Kaduna Central during the 8th Assembly, once publicly disclosed that each Senator collects monthly running costs of N13.5million in addition to the monthly N750,000 prescribed by the RMAFC.

The Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) – a body responsible for fixing salaries and allowances of public servants on Tuesday, revealed that each member of the Senate collects a total monthly salary and allowances of N1,063,860.00

The Commission gave the breakdown of the cumulative take-home pay for lawmakers to include: basic salary of N168,866:70; motor vehicle fuelling and maintenance allowance of N126,650; N42,216:66 for personal assistant; domestic staff – N126,650:00; entertainment – N50,660:00; utilities – N50,660; newspapers/periodicals – N25,330:00; Wardrobe allowance – N42,216,66:00; house maintenance – N8,443.33 and constituency allowance – N422,166:66; respectively.

However, speaking to the BBC Hausa Service on Wednesday morning, Sumaila said the RMAFC fixed the monthly salary.

“My monthly salary is less than N1million. After deductions, the figure comes down to a little over N600,000,” Senator Sumaila said, adding, “Given the increase effected, in the Senate, each Senator gets N21million every month as running cost.”

On Tuesday, the Chairman of RMAFC, Muhammed Bello Shehu, disclosed the actual salaries and allowances payable to members of the National Assembly.

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Shehu said some “allowances are regular while others are non-regular. Regular allowances are paid regularly with a basic salary while non-regular allowances are paid as of when due.

“For instance, furniture allowance (N6,079,200 million) and severance gratuity (N6,079,200 million) are paid once in every tenure, and vehicle allowance (N8,105,600 million) which is optional is a loan which the beneficiary has to pay before leaving office.

“A closer look at the monthly entitlement of Senators reveals that each Senator collects a monthly salary and allowances of the sum of N1,063,860:00 consisting of the following: Basic Salary- N168,866:70; Motor Vehicle Fuelling and Maintenance Allowance N126,650:00; Personal Assistant N42,216:66; Domestic Staff-126,650:00; Entertainment-N50,660:00; Utilities-N50,660:00; Newspapers/Periodicals-N25,330:00; Wardrobe-N42,216,66:00; House Maintenance -N8,443.33:00 and Constituency Allowance- N422,166:66; respectively,” the RMAFC chairman said in a statement he signed on Tuesday.”

He noted that except for a few political and public office holders such as the President, Vice President, Senate President, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, among others, all public and legislative officers are no longer provided with housing as was the case in the past.

“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,” he said.