>
The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), has given a breakdown of the salaries of allowances of senators.
The Commission in a statement issued on Wednesday by Ibarahim Mohammed, its Head of Public Relations, said each senator earns N1.06 million as monthly salary and allowances.
According to the statement, “the payment of running cost is not part of RMAFC mandate, therefore, only the National Assembly can explain it”
The explanation comes on the heels of the recent revelation by Senator Shehu Sani (Kaduna Central-APC), who disclosed to the public that each senator collects monthly running cost of N13.5 million.
Mr Sani had said that this was in addition to the monthly salary of N750, 000 prescribed by the “Certain Political, Public and Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances, etc.) (Amendments) Act 2008.”
Below is the breakdown of each senator’s earnings per month as revealed by the RMAFC spokesperson:
- Basic- N168,866
- Motor vehicle fueling and maintenance allowance – N126,650
- Personal Assistant – N42,216
- Domestic Staff- N126,650
- Entertainment- N50,660
- Utilities- N50,660
- Newspapers/Periodicals- N25,330
- Wardrobe -N42,216
- House Maintenance – N8,443
- Constituency- N422,166
Mohammed also said that some allowances were regular, while others were non-regular.
His words: “Regular allowances are paid regularly with basic salaries, while non-regular allowances are paid when due.
“For instance, furniture allowance of N6.079 million and severance gratuity of N6.079 million are paid once every tenure, while motor vehicle loan of N8.1 million is optional which the beneficiary has to offset before leaving office.
“The payment of running cost is not part of RMAFC mandate, therefore, only the National Assembly can explain it”
He said that the Law on Salaries and Allowances of Public Office Holders is very clear and that auditing does not fall within the purview of the commission.
He said that any other payments being enjoyed by any political or public office holder outside those provided in the Remuneration Act of 2008 were not known to the commission.
He added that the Chief Accounting Officers of the agencies concerned should explain such payments.