The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has said that each of the 109 Nigerian senators receives a total of N1.06 million in salary and allowances per month.
It explained this in response to previous debates about how much each legislator actually gets per month.
This indicates that each member receives N12.72 million in a year, while the Federal Government spends a total of N1.4 billion on all senators.
Mohammed Shehu, Chairman of the RMAFC, stated this in a personally signed statement in Abuja on Tuesday.
A breakdown of their monthly earnings revealed that each Senator receives a monthly pay and allowances of N1,063,860, which includes a basic salary of N168,866:70, a motor vehicle fuelling and maintenance allowance of N126,650:00, and a personal assistant of N42,216:66.
Other expenses include domestic staff (126,650:00), entertainment (50,660:00), utilities (50,660:00), newspapers/periodicals (25,330:00), clothing (42,216,66:00), house upkeep (N8,443.33:00), and constituency allowance (N422,166:66).
Shehu Sani, a former senator, recently stated that each senator receives a monthly running cost of N13.5 million in addition to the commission’s stipulated monthly payment of N750,000.
However, Shehu stressed that the RMAFC lacks constitutional jurisdiction to enforce compliance with the senators remuneration plan.
He did, however, indicate that the National Assembly is addressing this gap.
Shehu claimed that, save for the President, Vice President, Senate President, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, other public and legislative officers no longer receive housing allowances, as was formerly the case.
“The commission also wishes to use this opportunity to state that any allegation regarding other allowance(s) being enjoyed by any political or public officeholder 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,” the statement added.
