By Erewunmi Peace

Senate Chief Whip, Ali Ndume, has revealed that his monthly salary is ₦750,000, lamenting that while many lawmakers struggle financially, some individuals spend ₦100 million at once without scrutiny.

Ndume, who represents Borno South Senatorial District, made this disclosure in a recent interview with Channels Television. According to him, not all politicians enjoy the extravagant wealth often associated with public office.

“My salary as of last month, when I saw it, was ₦750,000. Some lawmakers in the National Assembly didn’t even have good cars to ride or houses, but within a short period, others are spending extravagantly. You would see someone spending ₦100 million at once on an occasion,” Ndume said.

The senator noted that public perception of politicians as universally wealthy is misleading, stressing that some work hard with modest means while others display sudden, unexplained affluence.

His remarks come amid renewed debates about the earnings of Nigerian lawmakers. The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) recently clarified that senators are entitled to a monthly package of about ₦1.06 million, including allowances, though many Nigerians believe lawmakers earn far more due to additional “running costs” and perks.

Ndume’s comments have sparked mixed reactions, with critics questioning the accuracy of his salary claim, while others praised him for highlighting corruption and unaccounted spending in politics.

As conversations about transparency in governance continue, Ndume insists that genuine public servants should not be compared with politicians who live lavishly on questionable wealth.