Elisha Abbo, a former senator representing Adamawa North, has claimed that the monthly earnings of senators are not as substantial as they appear.
Despite widespread criticism over the hefty salaries of Nigerian lawmakers, Abbo argued in an interview on Arise Television that the reported figures are misleading and insufficient given the responsibilities and challenges of their roles.
Abbo noted that while he was serving as a senator, his total monthly salary and allowances amounted to N14.4 million, including a N1 million salary.
He compared this to the current monthly earnings of up to N29 million for senators, stating that this amount “looks big on paper” but does not reflect the actual financial strain.
Abbo shared that he became financially disadvantaged after leaving his successful business to enter politics.
He explained, “I had to leave the company I founded, where I was the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, to pursue governance. I had to scale back my lifestyle because the funds allocated to my office were inadequate given the daily demands and challenges.”
He recounted a specific case where he spent N14 million to assist a single individual in need and mentioned the constant requests for help from his office.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has criticized lawmakers for setting their own salaries and allowances, calling it “immoral” and asserting that such matters should be managed by the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).
The Senate, however, dismissed Obasanjo’s comments as false, and the RMAFC has stated that each senator actually receives a total of N1.06 million per month in salary and allowances.
