Obasanjo: We lack constitutional power to regulate NASS salaries, allowances — RMAFC

The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has disclosed it lacks constitutional powers to enforce compliance with proper implementation of the Remuneration package for Nigerian lawmakers.

NewsWireNGR reports that former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, had accused the federal lawmakers of determining their salaries and allowances.

In defence, the Senate spokesman, Yemi Adaramodu, said the red chamber only receives the salary allocated to it by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) in line with the constitution.

The RMAFC is an agency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that oversees the revenues accruing to and disbursement of such funds from the Federal Account. The Body also ensures that there is conformity and equity in the nation’s revenue allocation formulae.

It determines the remuneration appropriate for political officeholders including the President, Vice President, Governor Deputy Governors, Ministers, Commissioners, Special Advisers, Legislators and the holders of the offices mentioned in Sections 84 and 124 as provided under Paragraph 32(a-e) of Part I to the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended).

Meanwhile, reacting to a recent statement made by Mr. Shehu Sani, a former Senator of the Federal Republic who was reported to have disclosed to the public that each Senator collects monthly running cost of N13.5 million in addition to the monthly N750,000.00 prescribed by the Commission, the RMAFC chairman, Mohammed Bello Shehu, said;

“First of all, I wish to state that RMAFC does not have constitutional powers to enforce compliance with proper implementation of the Remuneration package. This lacuna is, however, being addressed by the National Assembly.”

Giving a breakdown of the senators’ salaries, Shehu stated; “

A closer look at the monthly entitlement of Senators reveals that each Senator collects a monthly salary and allowances of the sum of N1,063,860:00 consisting of the following: Basic Salary- N168,866:70; Motor Vehicle Fuelling and Maintenance Allowance N126,650:00; Personal Assistant N42,216:66; Domestic Staff-126,650:00; Entertainment-N50,660:00; Utilities-N50,660:00; Newspapers/Periodicals-N25,330:00; Wardrobe-N42,216,66:00; House Maintenance -N8,443.33:00 and Constituency Allowance- N422,166:66; respectively.

“It is instructive to note that some allowances are regular while others are non-regular. Regular allowances are paid regularly with Basic Salary while Non-Regular allowances are paid as at when due. For instance, Furniture allowance (N6,079,200:00) and Severance Gratuity (N6,079,200:00) are paid once in every tenure and Vehicle allowance (N8,105,600:00) which is optional is a loan which the beneficiary has to pay before leaving office.”