Revenue Commission: Senators earn N1m monthly.

The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) clarified that each of Nigeria’s 109 senators earns ₦1,063,860 in monthly salary and allowances. This statement was released to address claims made by former Senator Shehu Sani, who suggested that senators receive a ₦13.5 million monthly running cost in addition to a ₦750,000 salary.

RMAFC’s breakdown of a senator’s monthly earnings includes a basic salary of ₦168,866.70 and allowances such as ₦126,650 for vehicle maintenance, ₦42,216.66 for a personal assistant, and ₦422,166.66 for constituency allowance, among others.

The Commission explained that certain allowances are paid regularly with the salary, while others are non-regular and paid as due, such as a furniture allowance of ₦6,079,200 and severance gratuity of the same amount, which are given once per tenure. Additionally, a vehicle allowance of ₦8,105,600 is available as a loan, repayable before the senator leaves office.

RMAFC emphasized that, apart from the president, vice president, and heads of the National Assembly, public officials are no longer provided with housing.

This clarification came amid criticisms from former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who argued that lawmakers should not be allowed to set their salaries, a role he believes should belong to RMAFC. The Senate, however, refuted these claims, with Senate spokesman Yemi Adaramodu labeling the accusations as “uncharitable and satanic,” asserting that the National Assembly only receives what RMAFC allocates in accordance with the constitution.