Senator Sumaila Kawu of Kano South has disclosed that his total monthly take-home pay is over N21 million. This comes shortly after the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) stated that each of the 109 senators receives around N1.06 million monthly in salary and allowances. According to RMAFC, this would amount to N12.72 million annually per senator, with a total of N1.4 billion spent yearly on the Senate.

In a recent interview with the BBC Hausa Service, Senator Kawu clarified that while his official monthly salary is under N1 million, deductions reduce it to about N600,000, with his total monthly earnings reaching N21 million. His statement contrasts sharply with the figures provided by RMAFC, which claims that the commission only approves salaries and allowances as outlined in the Remuneration (Amendment) Act, 2008.

The issue of lawmakers' earnings has sparked fresh debate, particularly after former President Olusegun Obasanjo criticized federal lawmakers for setting their own pay. Additionally, former Senator Shehu Sani previously revealed that senators receive a monthly running cost of N13.5 million, along with the N750,000 salary prescribed by the commission.