Abia North Senator Orji Kalu has said he earns a total of N14 million monthly in running expenses, salaries and benefits.
However, Kalu, former governor of Abia State and member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said the monthly salary of N14 million is not enough to buy fuel for his cars and manage the affairs of his electoral offices. in a country where a minimum wage of the worker is 70,000 naira.
This was stated by the senator in an interview with Television Channels on Thursday.
“Getting so much from where? If you had told me, I would have brought my Senate account statement. I earn 14 million naira for everything in a month. That's it, my salary, overhead, workers' salary and everything and everyone.
“No, it's not. Let me be honest with you. Do you know that I have this money to buy fuel, I have to travel to my constituency, I have to hold a position in the constituency, I have to sit in the constituency? It is not enough,” Mr Kalu said.
Kalu's statement contradicts what the Kano South Senator, Kawu Sumaila, revealed about three months ago.
In August, Sumaila, a member of the New Nigeria People's Party (NNPP), told BBC Hausa that his monthly salary is less than N1 million. Still, if running expenses are included, he earns at least N21 million a month, just like his colleagues.
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Controversy over senators' remuneration
The issue of senators' emoluments resurfaced recently when former President Olusegun Obasanjo accused them of fixing new salaries and benefits for themselves, against the recommendation of the Revenue Mobilization Fiscal Allocation Commission (RMAFC).
RMAFC is the body authorized by law to prepare salaries and allowances of public servants.
The former president also alleged that senators are accustomed to receiving incentives from the presidency to which they were not constitutionally entitled.
Senate Speaker Yemi Adaramodu, however, denied Obasanjo's allegations but remained silent on the total amount a senator earns monthly, including operating expenses.
RMAFC Chairman Muhammed Shehu also clarified that each Senator earns a salary and monthly allowance of N1,063,860.
The breakdown includes basic salary of N168,866:70; motor vehicle maintenance and fuel allowance: N126,650; N42,216:66 for personal assistant; domestic staff: N126,650; Entertainment: N50,660; Utilities: N50,660; newspapers/periodicals: N25,330; Wardrobe Allowance: N42,216,66:00; house maintenance: N8,443.33 and constituency allowance: N422,166:66; respectively.
Doing duty
Kalu, who was convicted in 2019 for allegedly diverting N7.1 billion from the Abia State government account for personal use, stated that he is doing his duty as a senator representing his electorate.
“I am doing my duty as a legislator in my constituency, and I can never fail in my duty, and I am sure that the majority of senators are fulfilling their duties in their constituencies. I can never fail in Abia North Senatorial District,” he added.
The senators did not obtain official vehicles.
Kalu also claimed that the National Assembly did not purchase official vehicles for all senators.
He said luxury official vehicles are purchased only for National Assembly committees for official duties.
Once again, Mr. Kalu's statement is contrary to what the Senate said last year before moving forward with purchasing the vehicles for lawmakers.
Last October, the chairman of the Senate Services Committee, Sunday Karimi, confirmed that the leaders of the two chambers of the National Assembly purchased luxury vehicles for all legislators.
Karimi told journalists in Abuja that the National Assembly decided to purchase luxury cars for the lawmakers because they wanted vehicles that would not only be durable on Nigerian roads but also easy to maintain for four years.
But Kalu said it is false.
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“These are just rumors. I am a businessman, they have not given me a vehicle. The vehicles are purchased for Senate committees. Senators have committee vehicles. My committee got a vehicle and it doesn't belong to me, and anyone on the committee can use the vehicle.
“Some government appointees use five to six vehicles, no one talks about it and legislators are doing a lot to get the Nigerian people to let go.
“We are the elected officials who can be easily reached. If someone is sick or their child cannot pay school fees, they cry for us. Committees get vehicles and no legislator owns any vehicle,” he said.