A former Nigerian senator, Shehu Sani, has shared that he was nearly suspended for six months in 2018 for telling the public how much senators earn.
Sani, who represented Kaduna State, wrote on social media that if not for the help of Bukola Saraki (the Senate President at the time) and Ike Ekweremadu (his deputy), he would have faced serious punishment. He explained that in the Senate, a senator reveals secrets, and they are usually left to face the consequences alone.
Back in March 2018, Sani shocked many Nigerians when he revealed that senators received ₦13.5 million every month for “running costs” and an additional ₦200 million for projects in their communities. Many of his fellow senators were unhappy with him for sharing this information, as their earnings are usually kept secret.
Sani’s statement comes at a time when another senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has just been suspended for six months. Her suspension happened after she disagreed with Senate President Godswill Akpabio. She later claimed in a TV interview that her problems started when she rejected Akpabio’s alleged advances.
This situation shows that Nigerian lawmakers don’t take it lightly when one of their own speaks out about things they prefer to keep private. Former Senator Shehu Sani Says He Was Almost Suspended for Revealing Senators’ Pay
