By Ayodele Oni
President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Governors, Lawmakers, Ministers, and Judges, are to benefit from the 114 percent salary increase approved by the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).
Aside the increment, payment has been backdated to January 1st, 2023.
This is coming despite opposition and criticism, especially coming from the organized labour, especially given the current economic challenges facing the country.
According to the commission, the review was long overdue as the last adjustment was carried out 16 years ago, in 2007, leading to the enactment of the “Certain Political, Public and Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances, etc.) Amendment Act, 2008.”
RMAFC Chairman, Muhammadu Shehu, represented by Federal Commissioner Rakiya Tanko-Ayuba, disclosed this while presenting the reviewed remuneration package report to Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, in Birnin Kebbi.
Shehu explained that the reviewed packages, effective from January 1, 2023, were designed in line with provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
He stated that the adjustment considered equity, fairness, risks, responsibilities, and national precedence.
The RMAFC boss emphasized that the review followed extensive consultations.
“On February 1, 2023, the commission held simultaneous public hearings across all six geopolitical zones to gather stakeholders’ input.
“We received memoranda, opinions, and responses to questionnaires before finalizing this report,” he noted.
He further explained that both subjective and objective criteria shaped the review.
“Objective factors included analysis of macroeconomic indicators such as the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Subjective factors reflected views from the public and professional groups.
“For judicial officers, the commission introduced three new allowances.These include a Professional Development Assistant Allowance, which provides for two law clerks per judge, a Long Service Allowance to reward judges with more than five years on the bench, and a Restricted Lifestyle Allowance to reflect the limitations judges face in active service.”
The commission has, however, urged all 36 state Houses of Assembly to speed up amendments of relevant laws to give legal backing to the new packages.
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