Why I revealed how much we earn as senators – Shehu Sani

Shehu Sani, senator representing Kaduna central, says
his conscience made him open up on the “outrageous” allowance
collected by members of the upper legislative chamber of the
national assembly.

In a recent interview, Sani said: “The constituency project
itself is given on a zonal basis and almost every senator will go
with a constituency fund of about N200 million, but it is not the
cash that is given to you.”

Although the senate later confirmed his revelation, Shehu’s
comments reportedly angered some of his colleagues.

But in an interview with BBC, he said he his
prepared to face the backlash of his revelation.

“It pricked my conscience and I decided to burst the bubble and
open the national assembly to public scrutiny,” the senator

“I decided to bust it open. It was a moral issue.”

He added that the national assembly is one of the “most
non-transparent organs of government” and that “if the expenses
payment system was ended, then parliament would only be attractive
to people who contribute ideas”.

Sani’s revelation has triggered criticisms from some Nigerians
who have accused the senate of receiving high earnings at the
expense of the masses.

One of such is Femi Falana, human rights lawyer, who
has called on the presidency to ensure that the revenue
mobilisation, allocation and fiscal commission takes action on the
matter.

“While we commend Senator Shehu Sani for exposing the secrecy
which had enveloped the salaries and allowances of federal
legislators in Nigeria before now, it is crystal clear that the
statement credited to Professor Itse Sagay, not too long ago to the
effect that Nigerian legislators are the highest paid in the world
cannot be faulted,” he had said.

Shehu Sani, senator representing Kaduna central, says
his conscience made him open up on the “outrageous” allowance
collected by members of the upper legislative chamber of the
national assembly.

In a recent interview, Sani said: “The constituency project
itself is given on a zonal basis and almost every senator will go
with a constituency fund of about N200 million, but it is not the
cash that is given to you.”

Although the senate later confirmed his revelation, Shehu’s
comments reportedly angered some of his colleagues.

But in an interview with BBC, he said he his
prepared to face the backlash of his revelation.

“It pricked my conscience and I decided to burst the bubble and
open the national assembly to public scrutiny,” the senator

“I decided to bust it open. It was a moral issue.”

He added that the national assembly is one of the “most
non-transparent organs of government” and that “if the expenses
payment system was ended, then parliament would only be attractive
to people who contribute ideas”.

Sani’s revelation has triggered criticisms from some Nigerians
who have accused the senate of receiving high earnings at the
expense of the masses.

One of such is Femi Falana, human rights lawyer, who
has called on the presidency to ensure that the revenue
mobilisation, allocation and fiscal commission takes action on the
matter.

“While we commend Senator Shehu Sani for exposing the secrecy
which had enveloped the salaries and allowances of federal
legislators in Nigeria before now, it is crystal clear that the
statement credited to Professor Itse Sagay, not too long ago to the
effect that Nigerian legislators are the highest paid in the world
cannot be faulted,” he had said.