SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT: RMAFC Clarifies Legislators’ Pay
Oru Leonard
In a bid to quell the controversy surrounding the salaries and allowances of National Assembly members, the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) issued a press statement on August 13, 2024. The Commission sought to clear the air on the matter, which has been a topic of national discourse among elder statesmen, public affairs commentators, civil society, and the media.
Recently, former Senator Shehu Sani sparked debate by revealing that each Senator receives a monthly running cost of N13.5 million, in addition to the monthly N750,000 prescribed by the Commission. However, RMAFC clarified that it does not have the constitutional powers to enforce compliance with the proper implementation of the remuneration package.
An Analysis of the monthly entitlement of Senators by the Mr. M. B. Shehu R
Chairman 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.
“It is instructive to note that 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. For instance, Furniture allowance (N6,079,200:00) and Severance Gratuity (N6,079,200:00) are paid once in every tenure and Vehicle allowance (N8,105,600:00) which is optional is a loan which the beneficiary has to pay before leaving office”, he explained
The Commission emphasized that its role is limited to determining the remuneration of public office holders, including National Assembly members. RMAFC urged the public to note that any additional allowances or payments outside of the prescribed remuneration package are not within its purview.
By setting the record straight, RMAFC has called on called the media and other interest persons 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: www.rmafc.gov.ng.
