Nigerian Senator Joel-Onowakpo appoints 280 aides, pays ₦25mn monthly salary, gives reason
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The senator representing Delta South Senatorial District of Delta State, Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, has disclosed that he spends not less than ₦25 million monthly to pay salaries of a total of 280 political aides he appointed from all the wards in the district.
He stated this on Monday at the Oleh Township Stadium, in Isoko South Local Government Area Delta State, where he distributed palliatives to constituents drawn from the various wards that make up the senatorial district.
Onowakpo disclosed that he appointed the aides to open up governance to as many people as possible in the senatorial district and to enable him effectively represent the senatorial district and fulfill his constitutional duties in the Red Chamber.
“It is worthy to note that I was elected your senator in February 28, 2023 and finally confirmed as your senator after a protracted litigation that ended in November, 2023 and I have officially occupied this mandate for 18 months.
“We have also appointed 280 persons ranging from Senior Special Advisers, Senior Advisers, Special Assistants and Technical Assistants, cutting across all the wards of the Senatorial District for which we pay over ₦25 million monthly.
“The main reason for this to open up governance to as many people as possible in the senatorial district and they have my mandate to interface with ministries, departments and agencies of government on my behalf to perform my constitutional oversight functions,” he said.
The federal lawmaker appealed to the appointees to take advantage of their appointments to carry out their oversight functions he described as mandatory and constitutional.
According to the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), each of the 109 Senators earns ₦1,063,860 monthly.
Although the total emmolument earned by each senator still remains shrouded in secrecy, but, the Senator representing Kano South Senatorial District, Kawu Sumaila, once told BBC Hausa that he earns about ₦22 million monthly. Perhaps the jolly good Senator pays the appointees from his personal income.
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