The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has said each Nigerian Senator collects a total monthly salary and allowances of the sum of N1,063,860 million.
RMAFC said the salary and allowances consists of basic salary of N168,866:70; motor vehicle fuelling and maintenance allowance N126,650; personal assistant N42,216:66; domestic staff-126,650:00; entertainment-N50,660:00;
Other items, according to RMAFC, are utilities-N50,660; newspapers/periodicals – N25,330:00; Wardrobe – N42,216,66:00; house maintenance – N8,443.33 and constituency allowance – N422,166:66; respectively.
Chairman of the commission Muhammed Bello Shehu made the disclosure yesterday while reacting to the recent controversy surrounding the salaries and allowances payable to federal lawmakers.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo had alleged that the lawmakers determine their monthly salaries and allowances. One time Senator Shehu Sani had also disclosed that each Senator collects a monthly running cost of N13.5 million in addition to the monthly N750, 000 prescribed by the commission.
Sani said some allowances are regular while others are non-regular. Regular allowances are paid regularly with basic salary while non-regular allowances are paid as at when due. The former Kaduna Central lawmaker said, for instance, furniture allowance (N6,079,200 million) and severance gratuity (N6,079,200 million) are paid once in every tenure and vehicle allowance (N8,105,600 million) which is optional is a loan which the beneficiary has to pay before leaving office.
“A closer look at the monthly entitlement of Senators reveals that each Senator collects a monthly salary and allowances of the sum of N1,063,860:00 consisting of the following: Basic Salary- N168,866:70; Motor Vehicle Fuelling and Maintenance Allowance N126,650:00; Personal Assistant N42,216:66; Domestic Staff-126,650:00; Entertainment-N50,660:00; Utilities-N50,660:00; Newspapers/Periodicals-N25,330:00; Wardrobe-N42,216,66:00; House Maintenance -N8,443.33:00 and Constituency Allowance- N422,166:66; respectively,” the RMAFC chairman said in a statement he signed yesterday.
He emphasised that with the exception of some few political, public office holders such as the President, Vice President, Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representative etc., all public and legislative officers are no longer provided with housing as was the case in the past.
“The Commission also wishes to use this opportunity to state that any allegation regarding other allowance(s) being enjoyed by any political, public office holder outside those provided in the Remuneration (Amendment) Act, 2008 should be explained by the person who made the allegation.
“To avoid misinformation and misrepresentation of facts capable of misleading citizens and members of the International Community, the Commission considers it most appropriate and necessary to request Nigerians and any other interested party to avail themselves of the opportunity to access the actual details of the present Remuneration package for Political, Public and Judicial Office holders in Nigeria published on its website: http://www.rmafc.gov.ng,”
he stated.
He however acknowledged that RMAFC does not have constitutional powers to enforce compliance with proper implementation of the remuneration package, a lacuna he said is being addressed by the National Assembly.
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