Are Senators, Representatives Making Money Or Making Laws?
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio has said that lawmakers are not in the Senate to make money but to make sacrifices for future generations. Akpabio stated this on the floor of the Senate during debate on the general principles of the Bill for an Act to amend the Electricity Act, 2023.
He said on Tuesday: “People think we are here in the Senate to make money, not knowing that we are here to sacrifice for future generations.”
As at 2024, the Chairman of The Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Dr. M. B. Shehu (OFR) said about Senators: “It is instructive to note that some allowances are regular while others are non-regular. Regular allowances are paid regularly with Basic Salary while Non-Regular allowances are paid as at when due. For instance, Furniture allowance (N6,079,200:00) and Severance Gratuity (N6,079,200:00) are paid once in every tenure and Vehicle allowance (N8,105,600:00) which is optional is a loan.”
In the Premium Times of October 24, 2025, the Senate had justified the planned purchase of luxury vehicles for lawmakers amidst harsh economic conditions facing Nigerians.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Services, Sunday Karimi, told journalists in Abuja: “Somebody that is a minister has more than three land cruisers, prado and other vehicles and you are not asking them questions. Why us?”
PREMIUM TIMES exclusively reported that the lawmakers rejected cheaper Sedan and Salon cars but instead chose expensive luxury Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) and that rejection of the cheaper cars for their official duties is a violation of the revenue package put together for them and other public office holders by the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).
A Nigerian Senator earns more than a member of Federal House of Representatives. Today, amidst unimaginable poverty level in the country due to leadership corruption and mismanaged economy, a member of Federal House of Representative publicly declared that he earns a total of N221,016,000.00 (two hundred and twenty one million, sixteen thousand naira) annually.
Out of this amount, basic salary ON A MONTHLY BASIS is N2.5 million, Furniture allowance-N7.5 million, Newspaper Allowance-N1.2 million, Wardrobe Allowance- N621,000.00, Recess Allowance- N248,000.00, Accommodation Allowance- N4.9 million, Utility Allowance- N828,000.00 and Personal Assistant Allowance- N621,000.00.
Meanwhile, many Nigerians who they claim to represent can barely feed once a day. Insecurity is on the rise as a result and unemployment status projects hopelessness. Yet, the lawmakers (or is it law breakers?) expect the mass majority that they oppress to still hold them in high esteem.
After their assumption of office in 2023, Vanguard of October 17, 2023 reported plans for procurement of cars that cost N160 million for each of the 360 members of the House of Representatives. They eventually defied masses reactions and disdain with the plans.
Are Senators in the red chambers and representatives in the green chambers there to make money or to make laws?
