24 hours after the statutory agency empowered to fix salary and allowances of those in elective offices, the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) disclosed that each member of the Senate collects a total monthly salary and allowances of the sum of N1,063,860, Senator representing Kano South, Abdurrahman Kawu Sumaila, had revealed that he earns a cumulative N21million monthly in salary and allowances.
The lawmaker on the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Abdurrahman, gave the revelation while speaking with BBC Hausa Service on Wednesday morning.
He said: ‘My monthly salary is less than N1million. After deductions, the figure comes down to a little over N600,000,” Senator Sumaila said.
He, however, added that: “Given the increase effected, in the Senate, each Senator gets N21million every month as running cost.”
Senator Kawu’s disclosure was however at variance with the public pronouncement attributed to RMAFC Chairman, Muhammed Bello, on Tuesday.
According to the Commission saddled with the duty to fix salary and allowances, each Senator takes a 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.
He however clarified that there are regular and nonregular allowances.
According to Bello, regular allowances are paid regularly with 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.
His statement reads in part:
“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 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.”
Nigerian Tribune checks revealed that former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo had last Friday accused members of the federal lawmakers of unilaterally fixing their salary and allowances without recourse to RMAFC.
He had said: “In your own case, with all due respect, you’re not supposed to fix your salaries. But you decide what you pay yourself, the allowances that you give yourself, newspaper allowances. You give yourself all sorts of things, and you know it is not right. It is immoral.
“You’re doing it, the Senate is doing it, and you beat your chest. In some cases, the executive gives you what you’re not entitled to. You all got N200 million.”
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