They are 109 active senators in the Nigeria Senate. The Nigerian Senate is the upper chamber of the National Assembly of Nigeria, the country’s legislative body. The Senate has 109 members, each representing one of the 36 States in Nigeria. Each state is divided into three senatorial districts, with each district electing one senators.
The Nigerian Senate has various functions, which include:
Lawmaking: The Senate has the power to make laws for the country, alongside the house of Representatives.
Representation: senators represent the interest of their constituents and states at the federal level.
Oversight: The Senate exercises oversight over executive arms of the government, ensuring that policies and programs are implemented efficiently.
Approval of appointments: The Senate confirms appointments made by the president, including judicial appointments, ministerial nominations, and heads of government agencies.
Budgeting: The Senate reviews and approves the federal budget, ensuring that funds are allocated appropriately.
Investigation: The Senate conduct investigations into matters of public concern, such as corruption, mismanagement, or national security issues.
These functions enable the Senate to play a vital role in shaping Nigeria’s governance, laws and policies. However there are some argument and debate towards their monthly salary and other benefit the Nigeria senators enjoyed, especially when compare with the civil servant or the common Nigeria citizens salaries.
Godswill Akpabio serve as the Senate President along side with his Deputy, Senator Barau Jibrin, the senators right to make law is summarized in chapter one, section four of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria.
From the account of former Senate President Ahmad Lawan on December 13, 2021, Nigeria senators salaries and allowance breakdown shows:
Basic salary 2.48 million
Hardship Allowance 1.24 million
Constituency Allowance 4.97 million
Furniture Allowance 7.45 million
Newspaper Allowance 1.24 million
Wardrobe Allowance 621 thousand
Recess Allowance 248 thousand
Accommodation Allowance 4.97 million
Utilities 828 thousand
Nigeria’s senators Earning:
Entertainment 828 thousand
Personal assistance 621 thousand
Vehicle maintenance Allowance 1.86 million
Leave Allowance 248 thousand
Severance Gratuity 1.86 million
Motor vehicle Allowance 9.94 million
Total of 29.48 million monthly.
“Are all this allowance really necessary for one senator, especially at this time that Nigeria citizens are going through difficult and hard time?,” asked by one of the anonymous source.
Mr James Ihiabe (not real name) a source said, one senator out of 109 is collecting twenty-nine million four hundred-eighty thousand (29.48million), if multiplied by the total number of the senators which is 109, the money that only the senators will receive every month will be: Three Billion two hundred ninety-seven million thirty two thousand(3,297,032,00) per month.
He further said that, if you multiply three billion two hundred ninety-seven million thirty two thousand by twelve months (one year), you will have: thirty -nine billion five hundred sixty- six million three hundred eighty four thousand(39,566,384,000) in one year.he asked a striking question which is: if Nigeria government use this money to re-awaken Ajaokuta Iron and steel company, won’t Nigerians benefit more from that? Won’t it create thousands of job opportunities for the citizens of Nigeria to work and earn a living?
One of the sources, Mrs Catherine not real name), expressed her pain as she was weeping that, the price of commodities(food stuffs) has gone very high in Nigeria as a country, she said one cup of beans is now sold at the rate of 400 and rice is now 350 and that feeding the whole family is now a problem but one man will be collecting 29.48 million every month, mean while an average Nigeria civil servant salary is between the range of hundred thousand(100,000) to two hundred thousand (200,000) per month.
Nigeria civil servants are employees of the government who work in various capacities to implement policies, manage public resources, and provide essential services to the country.
They work in various ministries, department, and agencies( MDAs) at the federal, state and local levels.
They are responsible for implementing government policies, programs, and project.
They provide essential services such as healthcare, education, security, and infrastructure management.
The civil service is divided into three tiers: federal, state and local government.
The federal civil service is managed by the federal civil service commission(FCSC), while state and local government civil services are managed by their respective commissions.
Civil servants in Nigeria are paid salaries and benefits according to their grade levels and steps, with the highest paid being directors and permanent secretaries.
The Nigerian civil service has faced challenges such as corruption, inefficiency, and political interference, which have hindered its effectiveness.
The salaries for civil servants in Nigeria vary based on the consolidated salary structure, which include:
Consolidated public service salary structure(CONPSS)
Consolidated Research and Allied institutions salary structure(CONRAISS)
Consolidated police salary structure(CONPOSS)
Consolidated para-millitary salary structure(CONICC)
Consolidated Armed forces salary structure(CONRAISS)
The federal government has approved a salary increase ranging from 25percent to 35 percent for civil servants across various consolidated salary structure, effective 1st January 2024.
Can 35percent of someone collecting two hundred thousand(200,000) which is now seventy thousand really take care of a man and his family in this economy? Although some argue that some civil servants collect hundred percent of their salaries depending the state and the nature of your job.
“Na we dey suffer but na senators dey collect hardship allowance,” said James one of the source of these feature story.
It will really be more profitable if the Nigeria government will reduce the salaries and allowance of the senators and channel the money to other things that will make the country more productive like investing in our companies that have been broken down for some years now.
If Iron and Steel company at Ajaokuta start working today many youth and other citizens will be employ and that will reduce the rate of criminal activities in the country and the level of hardship in this country will reduce, by this we can fight against the hardship in the country.
– Paul James
Prince Abubakar Audu University, Anyigba.
