The Senate has denied claims that the lawmakers in the Red Chamber receive a monthly salary and allowances totaling N21 million.
This clarification was made by the Senate spokesperson, Yemi Adaramodu (Ekiti South), on Thursday, in response to comments made by Senator Sumaila Kawu.
In an interview with BBC Hausa Service on Wednesday, Kawu claimed he receives a cumulative monthly package of N21 million, combining salary and allowances.
He stated, “my monthly salary is less than N1 million. After deductions, the figure comes down to a little over N600,000,” and added that “each Senator gets N21 million monthly as running cost.”
In a statement personally signed by Adaramodu, he emphasized that the running costs are separate from the salaries and personal allowances of lawmakers, which are determined by the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation, and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).
Earlier, RMAFC Chairman Mohammed Shehu disclosed that each Senator receives a monthly package of N1,063,860 in salary and allowances.
Adaramodu clarified that the running costs are intended for the operation of Senators’ offices and are not unique to the legislature. These funds must be accounted for with proof of genuine expenditure and are not personal allowances or salaries for legislators.
He also noted that these funds cover expenses for constituency office staff, oversight functions, and community engagements.
Expressing concern about the narrative of wasteful spending, Adaramodu stated:
“The Nigerian Senate is an Assembly of accomplished and successful professionals, administrators, and captains of industry, who are not driven by these often touted egregious pecuniary bits, but rather by their patriotic zeal in the nation’s quest to breathe life into Nigeria’s political and socio-economic dry bones.”
He further explained that the National Assembly operates with about 1% of the federal budget, even during financial constraints, and reiterated that the funds mentioned by Senator Kawu are not personal allowances or salaries, but are allocated for official duties and must be retired with proper documentations.