Shehu Sani Recalls Near-Suspension for Revealing Senators’ Allowances in 2018
Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has revealed that he narrowly avoided a six-month suspension from the Senate in 2018 after disclosing the salaries and allowances of federal lawmakers. Sani made the disclosure in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, reflecting on the backlash he faced for his revelations and drawing parallels to the recent suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
In March 2018, Sani disclosed that Nigerian senators received N13.5 million monthly as running costs, in addition to N200 million allocated annually for constituency projects. His revelation sparked widespread public debate but also drew sharp criticism from his colleagues, as lawmakers’ remuneration is typically shrouded in secrecy.
“When I publicly disclosed the salaries and allowances of the senators, it nearly earned me a six-month suspension if not for divine intervention, Saraki and Ekweremadu’s immediate rescue,” Sani wrote.
Context of Sani’s Revelation
Sani’s disclosure was part of his broader advocacy for transparency and accountability in governance. At the time, his revelations were met with mixed reactions, with many Nigerians applauding his courage while some of his colleagues accused him of breaching Senate confidentiality.
The former senator’s remarks come amid the recent suspension of Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who was handed a six-month suspension by the Senate over an altercation with Senate President Godswill Akpabio. Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension, based on a report by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, has reignited debates about transparency, accountability, and the treatment of dissenting voices within the legislative body.
Parallels to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Suspension
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension followed a heated confrontation during a Senate plenary session on February 20, 2025, when she protested the reassignment of her seat by Akpabio. The suspension has been widely criticized as excessive and politically motivated, particularly in light of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s allegations of sexual harassment against the Senate President.
In an interview with Arise TV on February 28, Akpoti-Uduaghan claimed that her troubles in the Senate began after she rejected alleged sexual advances from Akpabio. Her allegations have further complicated the situation, raising questions about the Senate’s handling of internal disputes and its commitment to addressing serious misconduct.
