Senator Shehu Sani has revealed that he came close to being suspended for six months in the Nigerian Senate after disclosing the salaries and allowances of federal lawmakers in 2018. In a post shared on his X handle on Thursday, March 6, Sani recounted how his actions almost led to severe consequences, but he narrowly avoided the suspension due to what he called “Divine intervention” by the then Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu.
Sani’s revelation centers on his bold decision to publicly disclose the financial details of Nigerian senators. The disclosure, which included information on the lawmakers’ salaries and allowances, quickly garnered national attention. However, it also stirred controversy within the Senate, as many senators saw Sani’s actions as a breach of protocol and an affront to their privileges.
The former Kaduna senator explained that had it not been for the timely intervention of Saraki and Ekweremadu, he would have faced a six-month suspension from the Senate. “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 in his post.
Sani went on to caution other senators about the potential consequences of whistleblowing in the political sphere. He emphasized that any senator who exposes sensitive information without backing from colleagues would likely face the repercussions alone. “Just know that if you are there and you blow the whistle too loudly, you will be ‘on your own,’ no senator go bring him head or neck to support you,” he added.
The disclosure of lawmakers’ earnings has been a contentious issue in Nigerian politics, with many citizens questioning the high allowances and benefits that lawmakers receive in comparison to the country’s economic realities. Sani’s boldness in revealing these details was seen by some as an act of transparency, while others viewed it as an attempt to disrupt the status quo.
