The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has clarified that each of the 109 Nigerian senators receives a monthly total of ₦1,063,860 in salary and allowances.
This breakdown includes a basic salary of ₦168,866.70, along with various allowances such as ₦126,650 for motor vehicle fueling and maintenance, ₦42,216.66 for a personal assistant, ₦126,650 for domestic staff, and ₦422,166.66 for constituency allowance, among others.
RMAFC Chair M.B. Shehu issued this statement on Tuesday in response to claims by former Senator Shehu Sani, who alleged that senators receive an additional ₦13.5 million in monthly running costs, plus ₦750,000 prescribed by the Commission.
Shehu emphasized that RMAFC does not have the constitutional authority to enforce compliance with the remuneration package but noted that this issue is being addressed by the National Assembly.
Shehu explained that some allowances are paid regularly with the basic salary, while others, such as furniture allowance (₦6,079,200) and severance gratuity (₦6,079,200), are provided once per tenure. Vehicle allowance (₦8,105,600), which is optional, is given as a loan that must be repaid before leaving office.
The RMAFC chair also highlighted that aside from the president, vice president, senate president, and speaker of the House of Representatives, other public and legislative officers no longer receive housing benefits.
The Senate recently addressed comments made by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who criticized lawmakers for allegedly fixing their own salaries.
Senate spokesman Yemi Adaramodu responded by urging those with evidence of such practices to present it, labeling suggestions that the National Assembly determines its own salaries as “uncharitable and satanic.” Adaramodu affirmed that the Senate only receives salaries allocated by the RMAFC as per constitutional provisions.
