The Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has approved a 114% rise in the salaries of elected politicians, including the President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, governors, legislators and holders of judicial and public office.
RMAFC is tasked with determining the appropriate remuneration for political officeholders such as the President, Vice President, Governors, Deputy Governors, Ministers, Commissioners, Special Advisers, Legislators, and those mentioned in Sections 84 and 124 of this Constitution.
Read Also A Brief Advice for Delta All Progressives Congress
The commission urged the Houses of Assembly of the 36 states to expedite efforts to amend relevant laws to allow for upward review of remuneration packages for political, judicial, and public officers.
According to NAN, the RMAFC Chairman, Muhammadu Shehu, made the call while presenting reports on the reviewed remuneration package to Kebbi State Governor, Dr Nasir Idris, on Tuesday in Birnin Kebbi, represented by a federal commissioner, Rakiya Tanko-Ayuba.
Pay attention to 100 military generals will be forced to retire over Tinubu’s appointment of new service chiefs
He stated that the implementation of the reviewed remuneration packages would begin on January 1, 2023, and that the move was in accordance with the provision of paragraph 32(d) of part 1 of the Third Schedule of the federal government’s 1999 constitution (as amended).
Pay attention to Video of Asari Dokubo brandishing an AK47 and threatening Igbo People Surface days after meeting with Tinubu
He stated that the most recent remuneration review took place in 2007, and that it resulted in the “certain political, public, and judicial office holders (salaries and allowances, etc) (Amendment) Act, 2008.”
“It empowers the revenue mobilisation, allocation, and fiscal commission to determine the remuneration appropriate for political office holders, including the president, vice-president, governors, deputy governors, ministers, commissioners, special advisers, legislators, and holders of the offices mentioned in sections 84 and 124 of the federal government’s constitution,” Shehu said.
“It is imperative that the remuneration packages for the categories of office holders mentioned in relevant sections of the 1999 constitution (as amended) be reviewed sixteen years after the last review.”
“In light of the foregoing, your Excellency may please recall that on Wednesday, 1st February 2023, the commission held a one-day zonal public hearing on the review of the remuneration package in all six (6) geopolitical zones of the country.” The exercise’s goal was to collect input/ideas from a wide range of stakeholders.”
He stated that the commission reviewed the salary packages in the reports objectively and subjectively, and that it follows the rules of equity and fairness, risk and responsibilities, and national order of precedence, among others.
“The subjective criteria reflected the various expressions of stakeholders via memoranda received, opinions expressed during zonal public hearings, and responses to questionnaires administered.”
“The criteria’s objectives were derived from an analysis of macroeconomic variables, particularly the Consumer Price Index (CPI),” he explained.
The commission was also guided by some principles, according to the chairman, including equity and fairness; risk and responsibilities; national order of precedence; motivation; and tenure of office.
Shehu stated that, after considering the economic impact of the review, the remuneration of political, public, and judicial office holders in the country was adjusted “upward by 114%.”
The chairman stated that the commission was considering the implementation of three new allowances for judicial office holders.
“Professional Development Assistant: This is to allow for the provision of two law clerks to all judicial officers in the country,” he said of the allowances.
“Long Service Allowance: This is to ensure seniority/hierarchy between officers who have been on the bench for at least five years and those who are newly appointed.”
“Restricted or Forced Lifestyle: This is to take care of the nature of the lifestyle of judicial officers while in active service.”
