N13m, N8m quarterly allowances inadequate for lawmakers — Senate Pres. Ahmad Lawan

Senate President Ahmad Lawan says the N13million and N8million quarterly office running cost for a member of the Senate and House of Representatives respectively, were the lowest of any presidential democracy in the world.

Speaking at an event in Abuja, on Monday, December 13, Lawan said contrary to allegations of “jumbo pay,” the National Assembly is grossly underfunded in Nigeria compared to other presidential democracies.

Lawan noted that the salaries of the members of the National Assembly, as approved by the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), are included in the budget allocated to the National Assembly.

According to him, “The total salary of a member of the Senate is about N1.5million and that of the House of Representatives is about N1.3million. The quarterly office running allowance for legislators is what is erroneously conflated with a monthly income to create confusion and mislead the Nigerian people.

The average office running cost for a senator is about N13million while that of a member of the House of Representatives is N8million.

This is to cover the cost of local/international travel and transport, consulting of professional service, medical services, office stationery/computer consumables, books, newspapers, magazines and periodicals, maintenance of motor vehicles and office equipment and constituency outreach, among others. This is one of the lowest of any presidential democracy in the world.”