The recent revelation that each Nigerian senator earns a staggering N21 million monthly is not just another story of excessive greed; it is a scandalous indictment of the country's political class. In a nation where millions of citizens struggle to survive on a minimum wage of N30,000 per month, the fact that these so-called public servants are siphoning off resources at such a grotesque scale is nothing short of robbery.
This shocking figure, disclosed by Senator Kawu Sumaila, lays bare the extent of the rot within Nigeria's political elite. Each senator, according to Sumaila, pockets N21 million monthly in running costs, salaries, and allowances—an amount 700 times greater than the current minimum wage. Even when compared to the proposed new minimum wage of N70,000, this figure remains 300 times higher. This disparity is not just a number; it is a stark representation of the systemic inequality that continues to cripple the nation.
While Nigerians endure unprecedented levels of hunger and poverty, their elected representatives are living in obscene luxury, funded by the very taxes paid by the struggling masses. The recent protests that swept across the country were a desperate cry for help, a plea for dignity in the face of economic hardship. Yet, the political class has responded not with empathy or action, but with a shameless flaunting of their wealth.
What makes this situation even more intolerable is that the N21 million monthly stipend is merely the tip of the iceberg. The formal earnings of legislators are widely known to be only a fraction of the vast wealth they accumulate through corrupt practices. Under the guise of "constituency projects" and "oversight functions," these lawmakers engage in underhanded deals that drain the national coffers and enrich themselves at the expense of the people.
This grand larceny is carried out with impunity, as the National Assembly remains shrouded in secrecy regarding the actual costs and allowances allocated to its members. Despite legal frameworks like the "Certain Political, Public and Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances, etc.) (Amendments) Act, 2008," which were supposed to regulate the emoluments of public officials, the reality is that the true extent of the senators' financial benefits is hidden from public scrutiny.
The silence of the Senate spokesperson, Yemi Adaramodu, on the total amount a senator earns monthly only adds to the suspicion. The Revenue Mobilisation Fiscal Allocation Commission (RMAFC) has been equally evasive, providing only basic salary figures and leaving out the more substantial "running costs" that inflate legislators’ earnings to such astronomical levels. Even when former President Olusegun Obasanjo accused lawmakers of illegally fixing new salaries and allowances for themselves, the response was a mix of denial and deflection, rather than accountability.
This blatant disregard for the suffering of the Nigerian people is not just an affront to democracy; it is a betrayal of the very essence of public service. The role of a legislator is to represent the interests of the people, to legislate for the common good, and to ensure that the nation's resources are used to uplift the many, not to enrich the few. Yet, what we are witnessing is a political class that has turned the machinery of the state into a personal ATM, draining the lifeblood of the nation while millions go hungry.
It is time for Nigerians to demand transparency, accountability, and a complete overhaul of the political system that allows such gross inequalities to persist. The current situation is unsustainable, and the continued plunder of the nation’s resources by those elected to protect them will only lead to greater unrest and instability. The Nigerian people deserve better, and they must not rest until this brazen robbery is brought to an end.
