Despite outrage, the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has commenced a review of remuneration packages for political, public and judicial office holders across the country.
This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday by Mrs Maryam Yusuf, Head, Information and Public Relations Unit of the RMAFC.
According to Mrs Yusuf, Mr Mohammed Usman, Chairman of RMAFC, disclosed this at a retreat organised by the commission in Kano.
Usman said that the importance of the assignment was for the growth of Nigeria’s governance structure.
According to him, the review is aimed at harmonising reports in the bid to review the remuneration packages for political, public and judicial office holders across the country.
“The effort is also a significant move towards the implementation of one of the commission`s core mandates,’’ he said.
The committee chairman said that the 1999 constitution as amended empowered the commission to determine appropriate remuneration for political, public and judicial office holders at all levels.
He noted that the commission had earlier taken some steps toward the review of the remuneration package to reflect prevailing economic realities.
“The RMAFC carefully considered a wide range of perspectives, including memoranda from stakeholders, public hearings and ministerial submissions, while also drawing from economic indicators and remuneration practices in other countries.”
He explained that the review process was not only about figures but also about sustainability and affordability.
He added that the commission has equally analysed the capacity of government to implement the review package, ensuring that recommendations remain fair, realistic and sustainable.
Usman said that the committee was directed to harmonise the earlier report and subsequent addendum into a single document, to provide a clear and comprehensive framework for implementation.
He appealed to members to bring their diverse experience and knowledge to bear, adding that the retreat would produce outcomes that were balanced and beneficial to all.
“I implore everyone to contribute towards achieving the purpose of our gathering, given our varied knowledge and wealth of experience.
“The retreat is expected to set a sustainable framework for political, public and judicial office holders’ remuneration in line with the mandate of the commission,” he said.
ADC rejects proposed salary increase for political office holders
Meanwhile, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has rejected the proposed salary increase for political office holders in the country.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr Bolaji Abdullahi, made the position of the party known in a statement in Abuja, saying that such move should be suspended.
Abdullahi said that such a substantial pay increase was unfair at a time when millions of Nigerians were grappling with the effects of inflation, rising fuel costs and inadequate minimum wage.
The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) had proposed a review of the salaries to the President, Vice President, governors and other top officials.
“We are aware of the commission’s constitutional mandate to periodically review relevant emoluments of political office holders in the country.
“However, proposing such review at a time when millions of Nigerians are struggling with soaring food inflation, high cost of fuel, inadequate and largely unpaid minimum wage would indicate a total disregard for the people,” he said.
Abdullahi noted that the attempt by the chairman of RMAFC to justify the proposed increases was not acceptable.
He said that the salaries of the political office holders were already supplemented with sundry bogus allowances and other discretionary funds, far exceed what ordinary Nigerians earn, with N70,000 minimum wage per month.
Abdullahi said unlike the public office holders, most Nigerians do not receive additional allowances or emoluments to cushion the effects of the rising costs of living.
“In the light of these developments, the ADC demands that the plan be suspended immediately.
“No such increase should be implemented while ordinary citizens are grappling with extreme financial hardship.
“Government should focus on improving the lives of the people rather than improving the salaries of the President and other political office holders who already live in affluence.
“Government has no moral right to demand sacrifice from ordinary citizens while they focus on making lives easier for themselves.
“Political office holders cannot be insulated from economic hardships, while the everyday-Nigerian suffers,” he said.
Abdullahi said that the ADC believed that rather than further enriching political elites, all government policies at this time should prioritise raising the minimum wage to a living standard.
He added that government should ensure timely and fair salaries for our civil servants and strengthening Nigerians social welfare programmes to reach the most vulnerable Nigerians.