The question of senatorial salary has sparked debate among Nigerians on several occasions. This is partly due to the high sums of money accrued to each senator when totaled.
There has been much debate regarding Nigerian senators’ salaries being among the highest in the world. Senator Shehu Sani, a senator from Kaduna state, revealed the income earned by senators in Nigeria, according to Nigerian prices.
In this post, we’ ll look at how much a Nigerian senator’ s pay might be and what additional advantages he gets.
Lawan Reveals Legislators Salaries, Says It’ s Lowest Across Presidential Democracies
The release of politicians’ wages on Monday came after years of speculation and opacity about how much Nigerian lawmakers in the upper and lower legislative chambers earn.
Lawan stated in a paper presented at the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDSfirst )’ s Distinguished Parliamentarians Lecture Series that a Senator’ s monthly salary is N1. 5 million and that of a member of the House of Representatives is N1. 3 million.
He claims that the N13 million contested in public a few years ago as a Senator’ s monthly salary was actually the quarterly office running allowance.
” A senator’ s overall compensation is around N1. 5 million, while a member of the House of Representatives’ salary is around N1. 3 million.
” In order to confuse and deceive the Nigerian people, the quarterly office allowance for legislators was erroneously equated with a monthly wage. “
” A senator’ s average office running cost is over N13 million, while a member of the House of Representatives’ is about N8 million, ” he said.
A Senator’ s N13 million office running cost equates to N52 million per year, whereas a member of the House of Representatives’ N8 million equates to N32 million per year.
However, in a lecture titled ” The Legislature, Legislative Mandate, and People– The Reality and the Public Perception, ” the President of the Senate stated that the Senate and House of Representatives’ quarterly office running costs are the lowest of any presidential democracy in the world, at N13 million and N8 million, respectively.
After the President and Vice President, the Senate President is often referred to as Nigeria’ s third citizen.
Nigeria’ s Senate president is paid N750, 000. 00 every month. Domestic staff, entertainment, utilities, security, accountability, Legislative Aids, Home Improvements, Special Adviser, Personal Assistant, Vehicles and maintenance, Clothing, and Newspapers are among the perks he receives.
The Senate President also earns a Constituency Allowance of 250 percent of his Annual Salary. He will be paid 300 percent of his annual pay as gratuity at the end of his contract.
The Senate President is paid an estacode of $1, 000 a night for foreign trips and a duty tour allowance of N37, 000 every night.
The Deputy Senate President receives nearly the same benefits as the Senate President, according to the revenue mobilization, allocation, and fiscal commission. The Deputy Senate President’ s basic salary is N2, 309, 166. 75 per year.
His allowance is N 5, 772, 916. 8, bringing his total annual pay to N8, 082, 083. 63.
The Duty Tour Allowance for the Deputy Senate President is N32, 000 each night, with an estacode of $1, 000.
According to detailed by the revenue mobilisation, allocation and fiscal commission, Salary of the Senate Majority Leader is N12, 968, 960 annually.
Salary of the Minority leader is N12, 908, 168 annually.
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Salary of the Whip is N12, 867, 000 annually.
Salary of the senate committee Chairman is N12, 867, 000 annually.
Salary of ordinary senators are N12, 766, 320. 00 annually.
FACT CHECK: Do Nigerian Senators Enjoy The Highest Salary Among Lawmakers In The World?
Claim:
A Nigerian Senator earns $2, 183, 685 annually and it takes 1638 years for an average worker to earn such an amount.
Conclusion:
False. A Nigerian senator’ s salary and statutory allowances were compared to those of their counterparts in other nations. Nigerian lawmakers are paid less than those in Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada, and even South Africa. The ratio of a minimum wage earner to a Nigerian senator is 81: 06, meaning it will take 81 years for a minimum wage earner to earn the same amount as a Nigerian senator..
Ripples Nigeria has verified the comparative list in the broadcast and can confirm that a Sri Lankan Member of Parliament earns the least at $3546. 25 per month, including pay and statutory allowances, as opposed to the $5100 stated. The biggest payment is made to the German Bundestag, which receives $204, 971. 04 per year, while the Nigerian Senator receives $70, 911. 69 per year, which includes basic salary and statutory allowance.
The data for Spain, Ghana, and Saudi Arabia only consider annual salaries without taking into account allowances.
While the table depicts current
payments given to legislators in several countries, it does not reflect the same amount as the viral WhatsApp post, nor does a Nigerian Senator earn a stunning $2 million per year.
The breakdown is incorrect because a Nigerian Senator’ s basic pay, according to the revenue mobilisation, allocation, and fiscal commission, is 2, 026, 400 dollars, not the 2, 484, 245 dollars stated in the transmitted message.