Politics Nigeria: The revenue mobilization and fiscal commission recently undertook a downward review of salaries of politicians in the country. This was a move borne out of incessant complains by Nigerians about the amount received by Nigerian politicians as salary. It is of a truth that the monthly earning of one Nigerian senator can be used to pay salaries of hundreds of civil servants. Hence if the salaries are reviewed downwards, it can be harnessed in a way to reduce unemployment in the country.

In this article, we shall enumerate the salaries of the Federal House of representatives members and the salaries of federal ministers. The figures are according to the data released by the Revenue mobilization and fiscal commission.

Salaries of Federal Ministers
The annual basic salary of a substantive minister is N2,026,400 (N168,866:66 per month).

Each of the ministers is also entitled to N6,079,200 as furniture allowance, which is paid once in four years. If any of the ministers desires, he or she is also entitled to N8,105,600 as motor vehicle allowance. However, the motor vehicle allowance is a loan repayable by the end of the tenure of the minister.

Other allowances include;

Motor vehicle fuelling and maintenance allowance of N1,519,800 (annual value).
Domestic staff – N911,880 annually
Entertainment – N607,920
Utilities – N405,280
Monitoring allowances – N303,960
Personal Assistant allowances – N506,000
Newspaper allowances – N303,960
Leave allowance – N202,640
Tour duty – N35,000
Estacode allowance – $900 per night
Housing allowance – N4,052,800
The summation of these annual allowances is N13,374,240 for each minister excluding the optional vehicle allowance.

Salaries of House of Representatives Members

Members of the lower chamber of the National assembly are among the top earners in Nigerian politics.

Salary of the speaker House of representatives

The annual salary of the speaker House of representatives is of N8,334,942.50.

In trend with the pay package of the senate president and other top men in Nigerian politics and to make the salary of the speaker House of representatives more juicy, the federal government provides him with allowances for the following:
Vehicle
Maintenance
Domestic staff
Entertainment
Utilities
Security
Responsibility
Legislative Aids
House Maintenance
Special Adviser
Personal Assistants
Clothing
Newspaper
He receives 75 percent of his salary as constituency allowance. He receives $ 790 estacode per night and N32, 000 per night for domestic trips.

Salary of the Deputy speaker House of representatives

The annual salary of the deputy speaker House of representatives is N8,002,309.94. He is entitled to the same allowances as the speaker. He receives $750 and N30, 000 for estacode and Duty Tour, respectively.

The Majority Leader of the House, the Minority Leader, the Chief Whip and Chairmen of Committees receive annual salaries of N6,352,680.00. Other membera in the House earns similar pay. In addition, they receive the following allowances:
Vehicle and Maintenance allowance; 50% of annual salary.
Domestic staff; 50% of annual salary
Utilities 10% of annual salary
House maintenance. 10% of annual salary
Constituency allowance 75% of annual salary
Personal Assistant. 25% of annual salary

Members receive $550 and N21,000 for estacode and domestic trips, respectively.