The Nigerian Senate has responded strongly to claims made by Senator Kawu Sumaila (NNPP, Kano South) regarding the salaries and allowances of senators. Sumaila stated in a recent interview that each senator receives a monthly take-home pay of ₦21 million, sparking widespread public debate and controversy.
Senator Yemi Adaramodu, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, addressed these allegations, emphasizing the financial transparency and the actual figures allocated to the National Assembly. Adaramodu clarified that the National Assembly’s budget constitutes only 1% of the federal budget, which he stated has never been exceeded despite the ongoing challenges of limited resources.
“For the umpteen time, the Senate is compelled to react to the obsolete allegations of a phantom salary and personal emoluments spuriously credited to Senators monthly,” Adaramodu remarked. He further explained that the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Allocation Commission (RMAFC), the body responsible for setting salaries and allowances for political office holders, has clearly outlined the financial entitlements of senators.
According to Adaramodu, the figures mentioned by Senator Sumaila do not represent the personal salaries or allowances of the senators. He explained that the amount referred to by Sumaila is actually allocated for the operational costs of senators’ offices and not for their personal use. These funds are used for daily office operations, staff salaries at constituency offices, oversight functions, and community engagements.
“This money referred to by Senator Kawu Sumaila is neither his salary nor personal allowance,” Adaramodu stated. “It’s for the daily running of offices by Senators and other attached statutory officials. It equally provides funds for Constituency office staff, oversight functions, and community engagements.”
Adaramodu emphasized that these funds are accounted for in the annual budget and are subject to rigorous oversight and auditing. He noted that the funds must be retired by the relevant officers, with proof of genuine expenditure required to ensure accountability and transparency.
Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Mohammed Shehu, had previously clarified that each senator’s monthly salary and allowances total ₦1,063,860 million. This figure, according to Shehu, includes basic salaries, allowances, and other benefits stipulated by law.
Adaramodu reiterated that the Nigerian Senate comprises professionals, administrators, and industry leaders who are driven by a patriotic commitment to national service rather than personal financial gain. “The Nigerian Senate is an Assembly of accomplished and successful professionals, administrators, and captains of industries, who are not driven by these often touted egregious pecuniary bits, rather for their patriotic zeal in the nation’s quest to breathe life into Nigeria’s political and socio-economic dry bones,” he concluded.
The public reaction to Senator Sumaila’s claims has been mixed, with some citizens expressing concern over the perceived high cost of governance and the salaries of public officials. Others have called for greater transparency and accountability in the allocation and use of public funds by the National Assembly.
The Senate’s response aims to provide clarity and dispel misconceptions about the financial entitlements of senators. By highlighting the legislative body’s commitment to transparency and accountability, the Senate seeks to rebuild public trust and confidence in its operations.
