Former Senator Shehu Sani has refuted claims by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) that federal lawmakers earn ₦1 million monthly, insisting that current members of the 10th Senate receive a staggering ₦21 million each month.
Sani, who represented Kaduna Central in the 8th Senate, made this revelation during an interview on Channels Television’s Lunchtime Politics on Wednesday.
The controversy over the earnings of Nigerian Senators has intensified following RMAFC’s statement, which sought to clarify the official salary structure for lawmakers.
However, Sani, who has been vocal about legislative earnings, accused the commission of misleading the public.
“I was a Senator and I believe I had correct knowledge about what actually happened at that time and I believe is what is happening now. Well, RMAFC was just playing with figures,” Sani stated.
He pointed out that while the commission accurately described the basic salary of Senators, it failed to disclose the full amount they receive.
“They were specific in saying this is the salary of Senators and then they went on to give a breakdown of ₦20 million which they said was what every Senator earns in four years. But I think they are being economical with the truth and I think I understand their fears in terms of telling the truth when they know what is actually happening,” Sani added.
Citing a recent statement by Senator Kawu Ismaila from Kano, Sani reiterated that current Senators receive ₦21 million monthly.
“Before I came to this interview, I was going through the papers and I saw a statement credited to one of the Senators from Kano, Distinguished Senator Kawu Ismaila, who confirmed what I said about Senators, particularly of this set, receiving up to ₦21 million monthly,” he explained.
Reflecting on his time in the Senate, Sani expressed that his conscience as an activist compelled him to reveal his earnings to the public.
“During my time, I was in the Senate and I was pricked by my conscience as an activist who went to the Senate to unveil what has been made secret for over two decades,” he said.
He emphasized that it is the right of taxpayers and Nigerians to know how much their legislators are earning.
“I believe that taxpayers and Nigerians in general have the right to know how much their legislators are earning and how much they are actually being given. I went on as a serving Senator then to disclose what I do receive monthly, what is credited into my account at that time, and it was ₦13.5 million,” Sani revealed.
The former lawmaker stressed that there is no need to deceive Nigerians or cover up the truth. He argued that since the funds are public money, it is necessary for those involved to be transparent about their earnings, just as he had done during his tenure in the Senate.