By Becky Usman

The Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has given its approval for a 114 percent salary increase for elected politicians, including the President, Vice President, Governors, lawmakers, as well as judicial and public office holders.

RMAFC is responsible for determining the appropriate remuneration for political office holders as stated in Sections 84 and 124 of the Constitution, which include the President, Vice President, Governors, Deputy Governors, Ministers, Commissioners, Special Advisers, and Legislators.

The commission has urged the 36 state Houses of Assembly to expedite the process of amending relevant laws to accommodate the upward review of remuneration packages for political, judicial, and public officers.

During the presentation of the reviewed remuneration package reports to Kebbi State Governor, Dr. Nasir Idris, RMAFC Chairman Muhammadu Shehu, represented by Federal Commissioner Rakiya Tanko-Ayuba, made this call in Birnin Kebbi on Tuesday.

The implementation of the reviewed remuneration packages is effective from January 1, 2023, in accordance with the provision of paragraph 32(d) of Part 1 of the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Government (as amended).

Shehu stated that the last remuneration review took place in 2007, leading to the enactment of the “Certain Political, Public and Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances, etc) (Amendment) Act, 2008.”

He said, “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 the holders of the offices mentioned in Sections 84 and 124 of the Constitution of the Federal Government.

“Sixteen years after the last review, it is imperative that the remuneration packages for the categories of office holders mentioned in relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) should be reviewed.”

The commission conducted a one-day zonal public hearing on the review of the remuneration package in all six geopolitical zones of the country in February. Shehu emphasized that stakeholders’ inputs and ideas were gathered during this exercise.

The chairman stated that the commission objectively and subjectively reviewed the salary packages, taking into account equity, fairness, risk, responsibilities, and the national order of precedence, among other factors.

He noted, “The subjective criteria reflected various expressions by stakeholders through received memoranda, opinions expressed during the zonal public hearings, and responses to administered questionnaires.

“The objectives of the criteria were obtained from an analysis of macroeconomic variables, particularly the Consumer Price Index (CPI).”

Shehu further explained that the commission adhered to principles such as equity and fairness, risk and responsibilities, national order of precedence, motivation, and tenure of office. After considering the impact of the review on the economy, the remuneration of political, public, and judicial office holders in the country has been adjusted upward by 114 percent.

Regarding judicial office holders, the commission introduced three new allowances after careful consideration.