Aside from My N1 Million Salary, I Earn Over N21 Million in Allowances – Sen. Sumaila

Senator Abdurrahman Kawu Sumaila of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has stirred controversy by asserting that he receives N21 million in monthly allowances in addition to his base salary. Sumaila revealed his earnings during an interview with the BBC Hausa Service on Wednesday, asserting that his actual monthly salary, fixed by the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), is just over N600,000 after deductions.

This disclosure comes amid ongoing scrutiny of the compensation packages for federal lawmakers. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo recently criticized members of the National Assembly for allegedly awarding themselves inflated salaries and allowances, contrary to legal guidelines.

Senator Shehu Sani, who served Kaduna Central during the 8th Assembly, previously disclosed that senators receive a monthly running cost of N13.5 million, in addition to a N750,000 allowance set by the RMAFC. In response to these claims, the RMAFC has clarified that each senator’s total monthly salary and allowances amount to N1,063,860. This includes various allowances such as motor vehicle maintenance, personal assistants, and constituency allowances.

RMAFC Chairman Muhammed Bello Shehu emphasized that allowances like furniture and severance gratuity are provided on a one-time basis per tenure, while vehicle allowances are considered optional loans. He urged the public to refer to the RMAFC website for accurate details on the remuneration package, as the Commission lacks constitutional authority to enforce compliance.