A recent revelation by Kano South Senator, Sumaila Kawu that he takes home ₦21 million every month as a member of the Red Chamber shows that the 109 senators take home ₦2.3 billion monthly.
Senator Sumaila Kawu on Wednesday morning, while speaking in an interview with British Broadcasting (BBC) Hausa Service disclosed that although his monthly salary is about ₦1m, his total take-home is ₦21m.
“The amount of salary I receive per month is less than ₦1m, if there are cuts, it comes back to about six hundred thousand naira and a little something as salary,” he said.
Senator Kawu’s revelation comes amid calls by members of the public for a cut in the cost of governance. Recall that members of the 10th National Assembly were also criticized for purchasing SUVs at ₦160 million while the citizens cannot afford quality education and healthcare.
Kawu’s disclosure also contradicts the clarification of the Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Mohammed Shehu, who said each member of the Senate earns ₦1.06 million as a monthly salary and allowance.
Shehu in the statement noted, “a closer look at the monthly entitlement of Senators reveals that each Senator collects a monthly salary and allowances of the sum of ₦1,063,860:00 consisting of the following: Basic Salary- ₦168,866:70; Motor Vehicle Fuelling and Maintenance Allowance ₦126,650:00; Personal Assistant ₦42,216:66; Domestic Staff-₦126,650:00; Entertainment-₦50,660:00; Utilities-₦50,660:00; Newspapers/Periodicals-₦25,330:00; Wardrobe-₦42,216,66:00; House Maintenance -₦8,443.33:00 and and Constituency Allowance- ₦422,166:66; respectively.“
Shehu in the statement published on RMAFC’s website added that the commission “does not have constitutional powers to enforce compliance with proper implementation of the Remuneration package. This lacuna is, however, being addressed by the National Assembly.”
By Kawu’s revelation, 109 senators of the National Assembly take home ₦2,289,000,000 (Two billion, Two hundred and Eighty-nine million naira) every month; instead of ₦115,960,740 (One hundred and Fifteen million, Nine hundred and Sixty thousand, Seven hundred and Forty naira).
In 12 months, 109 senators take home ₦249,501,000,000, (Two hundred and Forty-nine billion, Five hundred and One million naira) instead of ₦12,639,720,660 (Twelve billion, Six hundred and Thirty-nine million, Seven hundred and Twenty thousand, Six hundred and Sixty naira).