A heated interview between Channels Television journalist and Mic On Podcast host Seun Okinbaloye and Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi has sparked fresh debate over the salaries and welfare of members of the National Assembly.
The interview, which has gone viral on social media, centred on the lifestyle of lawmakers and growing public concerns about the cost of governance amid Nigeria’s economic challenges.
‘We Are the Least Paid Public Servants’
During the discussion, Okinbaloye questioned the senator representing Ebonyi North and Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate over public perceptions that lawmakers enjoy luxurious lifestyles while many Nigerians face hardship.
Responding, Nwaebonyi insisted that members of the National Assembly are not as wealthy as many people believe.
“We are the least paid public servants in Nigeria,” he said.
The senator added that he owns only one Prado SUV and argued that the title of “Senator” creates the false impression that lawmakers earn enormous salaries.
He also claimed that he spends more from his personal resources on constituency responsibilities than he receives as official remuneration.
Debate Over Lawmakers’ Earnings
Nwaebonyi rejected suggestions that the 10th Senate merely endorses executive decisions without scrutiny and defended the work of lawmakers.
His comments, however, have attracted widespread scepticism online, with many Nigerians pointing to the allowances and benefits enjoyed by legislators.
According to figures from the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), a senator’s official monthly salary and statutory allowances are about ₦1.06 million under the existing remuneration structure. However, lawmakers also receive office running costs and other allowances that significantly increase the total resources available to them.
Critics have continued to compare these benefits with the earnings of civil servants, university lecturers and the national minimum wage, arguing that greater transparency is needed in the remuneration of elected officials.
