Senator Sumaila Kawu, representing Kano South, has accused former President Olusegun Obasanjo of being the originator of corruption within the National Assembly. Kawu’s accusation follows Obasanjo’s recent criticism of lawmakers for setting their own salaries and allowances amid Nigeria’s economic struggles.
Speaking on Channels Television’s *The Morning Brief,* Kawu claimed that it was Obasanjo’s administration that first corrupted members of the National Assembly, particularly during the attempt to alter the Constitution to allow Obasanjo a third term as president. “When you are talking about corruption, it is Obasanjo who introduced corruption into the National Assembly,” Kawu asserted.
The issue of lawmakers’ salaries and allowances has been a topic of controversy, with the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) stating that each senator earns around N1 million, though some lawmakers, including Kawu, have disclosed much higher figures. Kawu recently revealed that senators take home N21 million monthly, sparking further debate.
Former Kaduna Central Senator Shehu Sani supported Kawu’s transparency, recalling his own efforts to disclose his earnings of N13.5 million monthly during his time in the Senate.
In response to Obasanjo’s claims, the Senate described his remarks as “uncharitable,” with Senate spokesman Yemi Adaramodu asserting that lawmakers’ salaries are set by RMAFC in accordance with the Constitution. Adaramodu challenged anyone with evidence to the contrary to present it, emphasizing that no senator receives any monetary patronage from the Presidency.
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