Over the years, Nigerians have continued to ask questions and argue about the salary that state governors in the country receive. This bone of contention cannot be thrown to the side because the uncontrolled lavish lifestyle of these governors continues to spell disloyalty in the faces of citizens who are only managing to survive. For people who seek to know exactly how much these men earn that allows such affluence, here is a breakdown of the Nigerian governor’s salary and allowances.
Salary of Nigerian Governors
The salary for all Nigerian governors is the same irrespective of the state or region where they serve. The Remuneration Package of 2009 established governors’ basic salaries at N2,223,705. After the addition of incentives and allowances, governors are supposed to receive a total annual pay of about N11,540,896. This package was designed by the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), and it became effective from the 1st of July 2009.
From the above figures, governors are supposed to receive a basic monthly salary of N185,308.75 and a total monthly salary of N961,741.33, with other incentives. Apparently, Nigerian governors earn less than one million Naira monthly, but their lifestyle says otherwise, which has raised suspicions among the citizens. In addition to their salaries, the remuneration package also granted them some allowances and incentives.
Allowances and Incentives that Nigerian Governors Receive
- Basic annual salary: N2,223,705.
- Leave allowance: N222,370.50
- Vehicle loan: N8,894,820
- End of tenure gratuity: N6,671,115
- Total annual salary: N11,540,896.
The vehicle loan given to governors is calculated as 400% of their basic salary. In addition to the above-listed allowances, the states also provide health, accommodation, furniture, and hazard allowances for governors. Another set of allowances not clearly defined in the remuneration package is the Estacode and Duty Tour allowance.
Aside from the normal Nigerian governor’s salary and allowances, estacode allowances are paid to governors in foreign currencies when they embark on international trips. Similarly, Duty Tour allowances are paid for local trips. The package made by RMAFC does not state how much should be allotted for these tours. The governors are paid any amount they request.
Upon completion of their tenures, governors are paid N6,671,115 as gratuity. Some States like Lagos state give a lot of benefits to ex-governors. These benefits started with the legislation signed in 2007 by Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the former governor of Lagos State. The legislation provides so many privileges to ex-governors that one can see it as parasitic.
It allows them to own a house in either Lagos or Abuja, the capital city. It also provides them with six new cars every three years, free health care for him and his family, furniture allowance, house and car maintenance allowances, and entertainment allowance.
Salary of Nigerian Deputy Governors
Having considered the earnings of governors, let’s take a look at the figures earned by their deputies and the allowances and incentives they enjoy.
With a basic annual salary of N2,112,215, a deputy governor receives a total annual salary of N10,772,296. This means that they earn a basic monthly salary of N176,017.916 and a total monthly salary of N897,691.33, with incentives. There is obviously no wide gap between the salary of governors and their deputies. The income of governors is just slightly over that of the deputy governors, and they too enjoy allowances.
Allowances that Nigerian Deputy Governors Receive
- Basic annual salary: N2,112,215
- Vehicle loan: N8,448,860
- Total annual salary: N10,772,296
Like the governors, their deputies receive vehicle loans worth N8,448,860. They equally receive Estacode and Duty Tour allowances that allow them to travel to different places within and outside the country. Other allowances like health, house, and furniture allowances are also given to them. In fact, they enjoy almost every benefit as the governors.
Controversies that Accompany the Salary of Nigerian Governors and their Deputies
Among other politicians, governors face many backlashes from Nigerians regarding the large amount of money they receive as salaries. Even though the monthly Nigerian governor’s salary and total annual salaries appear to be small, it comes across to Nigerians as a disguise for the large chunk of cash they earn from other allowances that are not clearly defined. This is evident in the type of wealth they flaunt.
For instance, their annual vehicle loan is eight million, eight hundred and ninety-four thousand, eight hundred and twenty naira (N8,894,820). However, these politicians move in large convoys with expensive and classy vehicles that will cost more than the allotted vehicle loan if calculated. They go almost everywhere with these vehicles and change them often, causing Nigerians to doubt the given figures.
More so, the meager minimum wage of thirty thousand Naira (N30,000) paid to civil servants is another provoking factor. If a state has so much money to pay not just its current governor but the ex-governor as well, with many unnecessary allowances, it should be able to pay its workers well too. Sadly, civil servants have to fight hard to receive their salaries at the end of the month, and some states sometimes owe their workers.
In the same way, while these politicians receive fat sums of money as gratuity, retired civil servants struggle with receiving their pensions. The large socio-economic gap in society has been the main reason many citizens try to investigate the salary and allowances of governors. They believe that if these allowances are cut down, the money can be channeled to something more productive for the state.
The clamor for the reduction of the yearly Nigerian governor’s salary and allowances has been a long-standing subject in the country. Some of their allowances are seen as extravagant, especially with the current state of the country’s economy.
Another main concern is the payment of pension to ex-governors and the benefits that go with it, including extra houses, cars, and an unnecessary entertainment allowance, among others. The money paid to these men could be used to pay many civil servants who need the money to survive. Some states like Lagos and Imo have taken actions to address the pension paid to ex-governors, but others are yet to comply.
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