By Milcah Tanimu
Senator Kawu Sumaila from Kano South has sparked controversy by disclosing that he receives ₦21 million monthly as a “running cost” for his office, despite widespread economic difficulties in Nigeria.
Sumaila’s admission contrasts sharply with the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) figures, which peg a senator’s official salary and allowances at approximately ₦1,063,860 per month. This figure includes a basic salary of ₦168,866 plus various allowances.
In an interview with BBC Hausa, Sumaila explained that while his official salary is under ₦1 million, he receives an additional ₦21 million designated for office expenses. After tax deductions, his net salary is about ₦600,000.
The revelation comes in the wake of former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s criticism of lawmakers for allegedly benefiting from inflated salaries and allowances, a claim that the Senate has denied.
Sumaila’s disclosure has intensified scrutiny over the discrepancy between official salary figures and actual compensation, highlighting ongoing debates about transparency and fairness in lawmakers’ remuneration.
