Senator: We receive N21m as running cost monthly

The senator representing Kano South Senatorial District, Sumaila Kawu, has disclosed that senators earn N21 million as “running cost” monthly.

The Star had reported that the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) debunked claims that Nigerian senators earn about N13.5 million salary monthly.

The RMAFC said this in reaction to former Senator Shehu Sani’s claims that senators receive a monthly running cost of N13.5 million in addition to a N750,000 salary.

The commission, in a statement issued by its chairman, M. B. Shehu, on Tuesday, August 13, 2024, said each of the 109 senators receives a monthly salary of N1,063,860.

Shehu disclosed that each senator collects a monthly salary and allowances of the sum of N1 million consisting of  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.

RMAFC: Senators earn N1m salary monthly, not N13.5m

However, Kawu, while speaking in an interview with BBC Hausa on Wednesday, August 14, said he earns N21 million monthly as a total take-home package.

The lawmaker, who is a former aide to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, added that his monthly salary is about N1 million, which is reduced to N600,000 after the payment of taxes.

He said: “The amount of salary I receive per month is less than N1 million. If there are cuts, it comes back to about N600,000.

“In the Senate, each senator is given N21 million every month as the cost of running his office.”

The Star