The Nigerian Senate has dismissed claims that each of the lawmakers in the Red Chamber receive N21million in salaries and allowances.
Senate spokesperson, Yemi Adaramodu (Ekiti South) issued this clarification on Thursday in response to statements made by fellow senator, Sumaila Kawu.
Recall that in an interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Hausa Service on Wednesday, Kawu had asserted that he received a total of N21 million monthly in salary and allowances.
Similarly, RMAFC Chairman, Mohammed Shehu revealed that each Senator receives a monthly salary and allowances totalling N1,063,860.
However, in a personally signed statement, Adaramodu stressed that running costs are separate from the salary and personal allowances of lawmakers, which are determined by the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation, and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).
Adaramodu clarified that running costs are not unique to the legislature and are used for the operation of their offices. He emphasised that “such funds are retired by relevant officers after being used for official purposes and proof of genuine expenditure.”
“It’s not a personal allowance or salary of the legislator,” and noted that these funds also cover expenses for constituency office staff, he said.
Expressing concerns over the perception of wasteful spending by parliament, Adaramodu stated, “The Nigerian Senate is an Assembly of accomplished and successful professionals, administrators, and captains of industry, who are not driven by these often touted egregious pecuniary bits, but rather by their patriotic zeal in the nation’s quest to breathe life into Nigeria’s political and socio-economic dry bones.
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“For the umpteenth time, the Senate is compelled to respond to obsolete allegations of phantom salaries and personal emoluments spuriously credited to Senators monthly.
“The funds referred to by Senator Kawu Sumaila are neither his salary nor personal allowance,” he added
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