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Economic Confidential,
August 17 2008
NEWS UPDATE
New
Salaries and Allowances for Legislators
The Nigerian legislators have reasons to smile as
they receive upward reviewed salaries and allowances in their
remuneration packages.
In a voluminous document on Remuneration Packages for
political, Public and Judicial office Holders in Nigeria, the
Economic Confidential discovered that the increase in the
salaries of the legislators was as a result of some economic factors
which include: changes in the basic fundamentals of the Nigerian
economy, External Reserves, GDP Growth Rate, Rate of Inflation and
need for a living wage to ensure honesty and dignity of the office
holders.
The Economic Confidential confirmed
that the basic annual salaries of legislators at Federal, State and
Local Government Level have gone up by more than 100%. In the new
review which takes effect from 2007, the Basic Salary of a Senator
has increased from N993, 697 to N2, 484,242.50 while that of a
Member of the House of Representatives has gone up from previous
annual salary of N794,084 to N1,985,212.50. A Member of the State
Assembly too has an enhanced salary from N794,085 to new figure of
N1,985,212.50.
Apart from introductions of new items and benefits,
the Allowance for Accommodation has been increased between 45% to
200% of basic annual salary. The differential is meant to address
accommodation problems between less and most expensive cities in
Nigeria. Other increased Allowances are: Vehicle Maintenance
reviewed to 75% from 30%, Entertainment from 10% to 30% and Utility
Allowance from 20% to 30%.
Other allowances for legislators include: Personal
Assistant 25%, Wardrobe 25%, Domestic Staff 75%, Recess Allowance
10%, Newspapers 15% and Constituency Allowance which is graded
between 15% to 250% for legislators at Local Government, States and
Federal Government levels.
The Furniture Allowances is now 300% of Annual Salary
which is paid once in tenure at the commencement of duty. The
Severance Gratuity after their tenure in office remains at 300%
while Motor Vehicle Loan is 400% repayable in six years.
The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal
Commission, is the agency responsible for the package as it is
constitutionally empowered to fix the salaries and allowances of all
categories of legislators in Nigeria. The previous remuneration was
recommended in 2000.
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