Nigerians have been shocked by the recent revelation from Kano South Senator Sumaila Kawu, who disclosed that he personally takes home ₦21 million every month. This figure highlights that, on average, the 109 senators in the National Assembly collectively earn ₦2.2 billion each month.
In an interview with BBC Hausa Service on Wednesday, Senator Kawu explained that despite a monthly salary of about ₦1 million, his total monthly income reaches ₦21 million. “My official salary is under ₦1 million. After deductions, it amounts to around six hundred thousand naira and additional earnings,” he stated.
This disclosure comes amid growing public discontent over high governance costs. Recently, the 10th National Assembly faced criticism for spending ₦160 million on SUVs, a stark contrast to the challenges faced by Nigerians in accessing quality education and healthcare.
Kawu’s statement contradicts an earlier assertion by Mohammed Shehu, Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), who stated that each senator receives a monthly salary and allowances totaling ₦1.06 million. Shehu’s breakdown included basic salary, allowances for vehicle maintenance, personal assistants, and other expenses.
According to Shehu, the commission lacks the constitutional authority to enforce compliance with the remuneration package, though this issue is reportedly being addressed by the National Assembly.
If Kawu’s figures are accurate, the total monthly earnings of the 109 senators amount to ₦2,289,000,000, significantly higher than the ₦115,960,740 previously reported. Annually, this sum reaches ₦249,501,000,000, a dramatic increase compared to the earlier figure of ₦12,639,720,660.
