Kano South Senator, Abdurrahman Kawu Sumaila, has disclosed that Nigerian senators receive N21 million monthly as running costs. In contrast, his monthly salary is just over N600,000 after deductions.
Speaking in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service on Wednesday morning, Sumaila revealed that his gross monthly salary is less than N1 million, with the final take-home amounting to slightly over N600,000.
“In the Senate, each senator gets N21 million every month as running costs,” the lawmaker stated.
This revelation comes amidst criticism from former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who recently accused National Assembly members of unlawfully awarding themselves excessive salaries and allowances.
The Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation, and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has also provided details on the official earnings of senators, indicating that each senator receives a total monthly salary and allowances of N1,063,860.00.
The breakdown includes a basic salary of N168,866.70, alongside various allowances for motor vehicle fuelling and maintenance (N126,650), personal assistant (N42,216.66), domestic staff (N126,650.00), entertainment (N50,660.00), utilities (N50,660.00), newspapers/periodicals (N25,330.00), wardrobe (N42,216.66), house maintenance (N8,443.33), and constituency allowance (N422,166.66).
