A former senator from Adamawa North Senatorial District, Ishaku Abbo, recently discussed the financial challenges faced by senators in an interview. He mentioned that during his time, the total monthly allowances were N14.4 million, including a N1 million salary. Abbo claimed that current senators earn up to N29 million, which may appear substantial but is insufficient considering the demands of the job.
Abbo shared that he had to leave his business to serve as a senator, which led to a decrease in his personal wealth due to the limited funds available for assisting constituents. He highlighted situations where he had to spend large sums on individual cases and seek help from state governors to address the overwhelming requests for assistance.
The contentious issue of lawmakers’ remuneration in Nigeria has been a topic of debate, with former President Olusegun Obasanjo criticizing the high salaries and allowances of federal lawmakers. Despite claims that senators determine their own pay, the Senate refuted these allegations. The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission stated that each senator receives a total of N1.06 million in salary and allowances per month.