The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has disclosed that Nigerian senators earn a monthly salary and allowances totaling N1,063,860. This announcement, made by RMAFC Chairman M.B. Shehu on Tuesday, was in response to claims by former Senator Shehu Sani.
According to the commission, the monthly earnings for each of the 109 senators include a Basic Salary of N168,866.70, Motor Vehicle Fuelling and Maintenance Allowance of N126,650.00, Personal Assistant Allowance of N42,216.66, Domestic Staff Allowance of N126,650.00, Entertainment Allowance of N50,660.00, Utilities Allowance of N50,660.00, Newspapers/Periodicals Allowance of N25,330.00, Wardrobe Allowance of N42,216.66, House Maintenance Allowance of N8,443.33, and Constituency Allowance of N422,166.66.
Shehu also clarified that, contrary to Senator Sani’s claims of a N13.5 million monthly running cost, the RMAFC is not constitutionally empowered to enforce salary guidelines. However, he acknowledged that the National Assembly is addressing the issue. He noted that while some allowances are paid regularly with the basic salary, others are disbursed as needed.
For example, Shehu explained that Furniture Allowance (N6,079,200.00) and Severance Gratuity (N6,079,200.00) are paid once per term, while the Vehicle Allowance (N8,105,600.00) is offered as a loan that must be repaid before the senator leaves office. He also mentioned that only the President, Vice President, Senate President, and Speaker of the House of Representatives still receive housing benefits, which were previously available to other public and legislative officers.
In a related matter, former President Olusegun Obasanjo recently claimed that lawmakers in the National Assembly set their own salaries, a statement that the House of Representatives has refuted. Deputy Spokesperson Philip Agbese described Obasanjo’s allegations as false, stating that House members are motivated by patriotism and a commitment to serve the Nigerian people. Agbese suggested that Obasanjo’s remarks might be influenced by past disagreements with the National Assembly during his time as president.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has recently signed the N70,000 National Minimum Wage Amendment Bill 2024 into law, following negotiations between the government, private sector, and organized labor. The Nigerian government initially proposed a N62,000 minimum wage, which was rejected by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC). After agreeing to the N70,000 minimum wage, NLC President Joe Ajaero and TUC President Festus Osifo announced that wage reviews in Nigeria will now occur every three years instead of every five years.
