Kano Senator Reveals Monthly Earnings of N21m

Senator Kawu Sumaila

Senator Sumaila Kawu, representing Kano South, has disclosed that his total monthly earnings amount to over N21 million.

In an interview with BBC Hausa Service, Kawu explained that while the official salary set by the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) is N1 million, deductions reduce it to around N600,000. However, additional allowances bring the total monthly earnings to N21 million.

This revelation came just a day after RMAFC, the body responsible for setting the salaries and allowances of political office-holders, stated that each of the 109 senators in the upper chamber receives a total of N1.06 million in salary and allowances per month.

RMAFC Chairman, Mohammed Shehu, made this clarification in response to recent debates over the actual earnings of lawmakers.

In his interview, Kawu stated, “The monthly salary is less than N1 million. After deductions, it’s about N600,000. However, each senator receives N21 million every month for office running costs.”

The allowances cover various expenses, including office operations, newspaper subscriptions, and local travel.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo had previously sparked controversy by criticizing National Assembly members over their allowances.

Speaking in Abeokuta, Ogun State, while hosting House of Representatives members led by Ikenga UgoChinyere, Obasanjo said, “You’re not supposed to set your own salaries. But you decide your pay and allowances, including newspaper allowances. You give yourselves all sorts of benefits, which is immoral. The Senate does it, and you boast about it. In some cases, the executive gives you what you’re not entitled to. Each of you received N200 million.”

The lawmakers responded by stating that RMAFC determines their allowances.

The allowances of federal lawmakers have long been a contentious issue. Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, had previously revealed that each senator received a monthly running cost of N13.5 million in addition to the N750,000 monthly salary prescribed by the commission during the 8th Senate, which he was part of from 2015-2019.

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