According to Ngige, his gross salary is N1,058, 964.00, out of which N16, 000.00 is for his personal assistant’s salary. The balance, which is N1,042, 964.00, is then subjected to tax, after which he receives N942, 000.00 as net pay. The minister explained that his salary is consolidated to include allowances for his feeding, transport, and the salaries of his staff, including his personal assistant, gardener, and cook.

Dr Ngige’s statement is in line with the current salary structure of Nigerian federal lawmakers and ministers. According to the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, which is responsible for fixing the remuneration of public officers in Nigeria, the basic salary of a minister in Nigeria is N2,026,400.00 per annum. This translates to N168,866.67 per month before tax.

It is worth noting that the issue of lawmakers’ and ministers’ salaries has been a topic of controversy in Nigeria, with many Nigerians calling for a reduction in their pay. This is due to the huge disparity between the salaries of political officeholders and those of civil servants, who are often owed months of unpaid salaries.