The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has disclosed that each of Nigeria’s 109 senators earns ₦1,063,860 in salary and allowances per month.
This clarification comes in response to a public statement made by former Senator Shehu Sani, who claimed that senators receive a monthly running cost of ₦13.5 million, in addition to a ₦750,000 monthly salary.
According to a breakdown provided by the RMAFC, each senator’s monthly earnings include a Basic Salary of ₦168,866.70, Motor Vehicle Fuelling and Maintenance Allowance of ₦126,650, and a Constituency Allowance of ₦422,166.66. Other allowances include ₦42,216.66 for a Personal Assistant, ₦126,650 for Domestic Staff, ₦50,660 for Entertainment, and ₦25,330 for Newspapers/Periodicals.
Additionally, senators receive ₦50,660 for Utilities, ₦42,216.66 for Wardrobe, and ₦8,443.33 for House Maintenance.
RMAFC Chairperson M. B. Shehu issued a statement on Tuesday addressing the issue, stating that the commission “does not have the constitutional powers to enforce compliance with the proper implementation of the remuneration package of lawmakers.”
He added that this gap is currently being addressed by the National Assembly.
Shehu also clarified that some allowances are regular, meaning they are paid monthly along with the basic salary, while others are non-regular and disbursed as due.
He explained that allowances such as Furniture (₦6,079,200) and Severance Gratuity (₦6,079,200) are paid once per tenure, while Vehicle Allowance (₦8,105,600) is a loan that must be repaid before a senator leaves office.
Furthermore, Shehu emphasized that aside from the president, vice president, senate president, and speaker of the House of Representatives, all other public and legislative officers are no longer provided with housing as was previously the case.
The statement from RMAFC comes amid tensions between the Senate and former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who recently criticized lawmakers for allegedly fixing their own salaries.
Obasanjo, who served as Nigeria’s president from 1999 to 2007, described it as “immoral” for federal lawmakers to determine their earnings and argued that the responsibility should lie with the RMAFC.
In response, Senate spokesman Yemi Adaramodu challenged anyone with evidence to support claims that the National Assembly fixes its own salaries.
He described such assertions as “uncharitable and satanic,” insisting that the Senate only receives the salary allocated by the RMAFC, in accordance with the constitution.