Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged
the Senate President Dr Bukola Sakari to “urgently explain to Nigerians
if it is true that a Nigerian Senator gets N29 million in monthly pay,
and over N3 billion a year.”
the Senate President Dr Bukola Sakari to “urgently explain to Nigerians
if it is true that a Nigerian Senator gets N29 million in monthly pay,
and over N3 billion a year.”
Professor Itse Sagay, Chairman Presidential Advisory Committee
against Corruption (PACAC), had last week alleged that a Nigerian
Senator gets N29 million in monthly pay. But the Senate has so far
refused to clarify this or disclose the details of salaries and
allowances of its members.
against Corruption (PACAC), had last week alleged that a Nigerian
Senator gets N29 million in monthly pay. But the Senate has so far
refused to clarify this or disclose the details of salaries and
allowances of its members.
In a statement today by SERAP deputy director Timothy Adewale the
organization said that, “The ‘sky will not fall’ if details of a
Nigerian Senator’s salaries and allowances are published on a dedicated
website. SERAP believes that releasing the information on salaries and
allowances of members of the Senate would encourage a nuanced,
evidence-based public debate on what would or should be a fair salary
for a member of the Senate.”
organization said that, “The ‘sky will not fall’ if details of a
Nigerian Senator’s salaries and allowances are published on a dedicated
website. SERAP believes that releasing the information on salaries and
allowances of members of the Senate would encourage a nuanced,
evidence-based public debate on what would or should be a fair salary
for a member of the Senate.”
The organization said that, “It is by making transparency a guiding
principle of the National Assembly that the Senate can regain the
support of their constituents and public trust, and contribute to ending
the country’s damaging reputation for corruption.”
principle of the National Assembly that the Senate can regain the
support of their constituents and public trust, and contribute to ending
the country’s damaging reputation for corruption.”
The statement read in part: “Transparency is a fundamental attribute
of democracy, a norm of human rights, a tool to promote political and
economic prosperity and to curb corruption. For the Senate, practising
transparency should start with the leadership being open to Nigerians on
the salaries and allowances of members.”
of democracy, a norm of human rights, a tool to promote political and
economic prosperity and to curb corruption. For the Senate, practising
transparency should start with the leadership being open to Nigerians on
the salaries and allowances of members.”
“SERAP strongly believes that it is by knowing exactly how much their
lawmakers earn as salaries and allowances that members of the National
Assembly can remain accountable to Nigerians and our citizens can be
assured that neither fraud nor government waste is concealed.”
lawmakers earn as salaries and allowances that members of the National
Assembly can remain accountable to Nigerians and our citizens can be
assured that neither fraud nor government waste is concealed.”
“If the Senate under your leadership is committed to serving the
public interest, it should reaffirm its commitment to openness by
urgently publishing details of salaries and allowances of members. But
when the Senate leadership routinely denies access to information on
matters as basic as salaries and allowances of our lawmakers because
some exceptions or other privileges override a constitutional and
statutory disclosure requirement, open government would seem more like a
distant, deferred ideal than an existing practice.”
public interest, it should reaffirm its commitment to openness by
urgently publishing details of salaries and allowances of members. But
when the Senate leadership routinely denies access to information on
matters as basic as salaries and allowances of our lawmakers because
some exceptions or other privileges override a constitutional and
statutory disclosure requirement, open government would seem more like a
distant, deferred ideal than an existing practice.”
“The continuing refusal by the Senate to reveal concrete information
about the salaries and allowances of their leadership and members could
ultimately endanger the healthy development of a rule-of-law state.”
about the salaries and allowances of their leadership and members could
ultimately endanger the healthy development of a rule-of-law state.”
“SERAP is concerned that the Senate seems to consider releasing
concrete information about salaries and allowances of members to be at
best a burden and, at worst, a threat to their legislative functions.
Releasing information on your salaries and allowances would not
interfere with your law-making functions. In fact, doing so would
improve public confidence in the ability and legitimacy of the Senate to
perform those functions and make laws for the peace, order and good
governance of the Federation.”
concrete information about salaries and allowances of members to be at
best a burden and, at worst, a threat to their legislative functions.
Releasing information on your salaries and allowances would not
interfere with your law-making functions. In fact, doing so would
improve public confidence in the ability and legitimacy of the Senate to
perform those functions and make laws for the peace, order and good
governance of the Federation.”
“By permitting access to information on your members’ salaries and
allowances long shielded unnecessarily from public view, the Senate
would be moving towards securing the confidence of Nigerians in the
legislature. The Senate would also be establishing a more solid
political base from which to perform its legislative duties and to
fulfill its role in the balance of power within the Nigerian
constitutional order.”
allowances long shielded unnecessarily from public view, the Senate
would be moving towards securing the confidence of Nigerians in the
legislature. The Senate would also be establishing a more solid
political base from which to perform its legislative duties and to
fulfill its role in the balance of power within the Nigerian
constitutional order.”
“Transparency is necessary for accountability, and helps to promote
impartiality by suppressing self-interested official behavior. It also
enables the free flow of information among public agencies and private
individuals, allowing input, review, and criticism of government action,
and thereby increases the quality of governance.”
impartiality by suppressing self-interested official behavior. It also
enables the free flow of information among public agencies and private
individuals, allowing input, review, and criticism of government action,
and thereby increases the quality of governance.”
The details of the salaries and allowances as provided by Professor
Sagay are as follows: basic salary N2,484,245.50; hardship allowance,
1,242, 122.70; constituency allowance N4, 968, 509.00; furniture
allowance N7, 452, 736.50; newspaper allowance N1, 242, 122.70. Others
are: Wardrobe allowance N621,061.37; recess allowance N248, 424.55;
accommodation 4,968,509.00; utilities N828,081.83; domestic staff
N1,863,184.12; entertainment N828,081.83; personal assistant
N621,061.37; vehicle maintenance allowance N1,863,184.12; leave
allowance N248,424.55; severance gratuity N7, 425,736.50; and motor
vehicle allowance N9, 936,982.00.
Sagay are as follows: basic salary N2,484,245.50; hardship allowance,
1,242, 122.70; constituency allowance N4, 968, 509.00; furniture
allowance N7, 452, 736.50; newspaper allowance N1, 242, 122.70. Others
are: Wardrobe allowance N621,061.37; recess allowance N248, 424.55;
accommodation 4,968,509.00; utilities N828,081.83; domestic staff
N1,863,184.12; entertainment N828,081.83; personal assistant
N621,061.37; vehicle maintenance allowance N1,863,184.12; leave
allowance N248,424.55; severance gratuity N7, 425,736.50; and motor
vehicle allowance N9, 936,982.00.
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