Lawmakers' N29 Million Monthly Earnings Is Too Small, Says Former Adamawa North Senator, Elisha Abo

By: Abdulwasiu Akintunde, Israel Adeleke 

A Former Senator, Elisha Abbo, who represented Adamawa North, has recently addressed the public's perception of lawmakers' earnings, asserting that while the figures may seem large on paper, they fall short of meeting the actual demands placed on elected officials. 

As gathered by OPEN TELEVISION Naija (OTN) News during an appearance on Arise Television, Abbo explained that the criticism surrounding the earnings of Nigerian lawmakers, particularly those in the National Assembly, often overlooks the financial pressures and responsibilities that come with their roles. 

He pointed out that the public tends to fixate on the figures without fully understanding the burdens lawmakers face.

Abbo elaborated on his own experience in the Senate, revealing that during his tenure, his total monthly earnings, including salary and various allowances, amounted to N14.4 million. 

This included his basic salary of N1 million alongside allowances for wardrobe, vehicles, and other miscellaneous expenses. 

He noted that the current senators now earn up to N29 million monthly, a figure that has drawn widespread condemnation. Despite this, he insisted that even these seemingly large earnings are insufficient to meet the needs of their offices and constituencies. 

“I want to be honest about this, I am not defending the National Assembly, but I’m laying out the facts. My salary and allowances were N14.4 million per month, but people forget that this amount includes allowances that are meant to cover specific costs, like transportation, housing, and other responsibilities. It sounds like a lot, but in practice, it’s not nearly enough,” Abbo said. 

OTN News reports that Abbo went on to reflect on the personal financial sacrifices he made after entering politics. He recounted how, after leaving the private sector, where he had been the Managing Director and CEO of a company he founded, he found himself struggling to meet the financial demands of his new role as a senator. 

He explained that his income was barely sufficient to support his personal life and the numerous requests for financial assistance from his constituents. 

He highlighted a case in which he spent N14 million on hospital bills for just one individual, showcasing the enormous strain such requests placed on his resources.

"My office was constantly flooded with people seeking help, not just from Adamawa, but from other states as well. The needs were overwhelming. I had to reach out to Governors in other States to assist me with some of the cases being brought to my attention because my office couldn’t handle them all financially,” Abbo recounted. 

"People need to understand that these salaries and allowances are not as large as they appear when you consider the demands that come with the job.”

Abbo’s comments have reignited the ongoing debate about lawmakers' salaries and allowances in Nigeria, with many questioning whether these figures are justified. 

OTN News further revealed that recently, former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, criticized the practice of lawmakers determining their own pay, calling it "immoral." 

According to Obasanjo, setting one’s own salary is a conflict of interest, and the responsibility should lie with the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), the agency legally mandated to handle such matters.

Obasanjo stated, "It is immoral for lawmakers to set their own salaries and allowances. This is supposed to be done by the RMAFC. It’s simply not right for me to decide how much I get paid, it's a conflict of interest.”

The Senate, however, has dismissed Obasanjo’s remarks as inaccurate. 

OTN News recalls that the RMAFC also clarified that the actual salaries and allowances for each senator total N1.06 million per month, excluding the additional allowances often included in discussions of lawmakers’ earnings. This discrepancy between the official salary figures and the allowances claimed by senators has fueled ongoing public scrutiny of the National Assembly's remuneration system.