The Nigerian Senate has firmly denied any allegations of awarding itself new salaries and allowances beyond what is legally prescribed by the Revenue Mobilisation Fiscal Allocation Commission (RMAFC), the authorized body responsible for setting public officers’ remuneration.
This denial comes in response to claims made by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who suggested that senators had received additional incentives from the presidency.
Senate spokesperson, Yemi Adaramodu, issued a statement on Sunday, clarifying that senators receive only the salaries and allowances determined by the RMAFC. He challenged anyone with evidence to the contrary to present it, emphasizing that the Senate operates within the boundaries set by the commission.
Adaramodu stressed that the Senate lacks the constitutional authority to set its own salaries and allowances. “The senators or the National Assembly do not and cannot fix their salaries. Any suggestions contrary is uncharitable and satanic. It’s only an attempt to crucify the legislature by the centurions of political hypocrisy,” he stated.
The controversy surrounding the Senate’s emoluments has highlighted the distinction between official salaries and allowances and the running costs associated with their offices.
While Nigerian law, under the “Certain Political, Public and Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances, etc.) (Amendments) Act, 2008,” outlines the salaries and allowances for public office holders, it does not address the running costs.
Over the years, federal lawmakers have confirmed receiving additional funds for running costs. For example, former Senator Shehu Sani from Kaduna Central once disclosed that senators received N13.5 million monthly as “running cost,” in addition to their N750,000 monthly consolidated salary and allowances.
Despite the controversy this sparked, the RMAFC did not deny the existence of such payments but clarified that details of these running costs fall under the jurisdiction of the National Assembly Service Commission.
In his statement, Adaramodu did not address the issue of running costs or specify any figures related to allowances beyond the standard entitlements prescribed by the RMAFC.
According to RMAFC’s latest breakdown, each senator is entitled to a monthly salary and allowance totaling approximately N1,063,860. This amount includes a basic salary of N168,866, as well as allowances for vehicle fueling and maintenance, personal assistants, domestic staff, entertainment, utilities, newspapers and periodicals, wardrobe, house maintenance, and constituency allowances.
In addition to refuting claims of unauthorized salaries, the Senate also denied allegations of receiving incentives from the presidency, specifically in relation to the N100 billion constituency project funds.
Adaramodu clarified that these funds are earmarked for development projects within constituencies and are not for the personal use of lawmakers. Legislators merely nominate projects, while the actual contracting and payments are managed by relevant government agencies and ministries.
He emphasized that the funds are intended to ensure that every part of Nigeria benefits from federal projects, and the distribution varies depending on the number of constituencies in each state.
