The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has clarified that each of the 109 senators in Nigeria’s National Assembly receives a monthly salary and allowances totaling ₦1,063,860.
This clarification was made in response to recent comments by former Senator Shehu Sani, who claimed that each senator collects a monthly running cost of ₦13.5 million, in addition to the ₦750,000 prescribed by the commission.
The commission’s chairman, M. B. Shehu, provided a detailed breakdown of the senators’ earnings, including a basic salary of ₦168,866.70, and various allowances such as Motor Vehicle Fuelling and Maintenance (₦126,650), Personal Assistant (₦42,216.66), Domestic Staff (₦126,650), Entertainment (₦50,660), Utilities (₦50,660), Newspapers/Periodicals (₦25,330), Wardrobe (₦42,216.66), House Maintenance (₦8,443.33), and Constituency Allowance (₦422,166.66).
Shehu clarified that some of these allowances are paid regularly alongside the basic salary, while others are non-regular and are disbursed as needed. For example, Furniture Allowance (₦6,079,200) and Severance Gratuity (₦6,079,200) are paid once per tenure, while Vehicle Allowance (₦8,105,600) is an optional loan that must be repaid before leaving office.
He also emphasized that the RMAFC lacks the constitutional authority to enforce compliance with the correct implementation of lawmakers’ remuneration packages.
Additionally, Shehu noted that aside from the President, Vice President, Senate President, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, public and legislative officers are no longer provided with government housing, which was a practice in the past.
This clarification follows recent criticisms, including remarks by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who condemned federal lawmakers for setting their own salaries and allowances, calling the practice “immoral” and suggesting that RMAFC should be responsible for this task.
