The federal government has debunked reports of a 114 percent salary raise for political officeholders and judicial officers.
Reports emerged on Wednesday that the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC, reviewed the salaries of elected politicians, including the President, Vice-President, governors, lawmakers as well as judicial and public office holders upward by 114 percent.
Confirming the reports, Hassan Mohammed Usman, a federal commissioner of the RMAFC, during an interview with Arise TV on Thursday, said the reviewed remuneration package was necessary, as it has been 16 years since the salaries were reviewed.
He explained that the salary is to be reviewed every five years, but that has not been done since 2007.
However, Dele Alake, the special adviser to the President on special duties, communications, and strategy, described the reports as misinformation as the president has not approved the increment.
He derided the media for running with the news, making it go viral without crosschecking if it emanated from “approved official communication channels.”
Read Alake’s statement below.
NO PRESIDENTIAL APPROVAL FOR SALARY INCREASES FOR POLITICAL OFFICE HOLDERS AND JUDICIAL OFFICERS
We have followed with consternation the viral story of the purported 114% increase in the salary of the President, Vice President, elected Federal and State political office holders, and judicial officers.
We state without any equivocation that President Bola Tinubu has not approved any salary increase, and no such proposal has been brought before him for consideration.
While we recognise that it is within the constitutional remit of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation, and Fiscal Commission to propose and fix salaries and allowances of political office holders and Judicial Officers, such cannot come to effect until it has equally been considered and approved by the President.
It is important to note that RMAFC, through its Public Relations Manager, has responded to this fake story being circulated and has already set the record straight.
However, this unfounded story gained prominence on social media and in a section of mainstream media, again, bringing to the fore the danger fake news poses to society and our national well-being. The misinformation was, obviously, contrived to create an ill will for the new administration and slow down the upward momentum and massive goodwill the Tinubu-led administration is currently enjoying among Nigerians because of its fast-paced, dynamic, and progressive policies.
It is important to reiterate to journalists, media managers, and members of the public that stories on government activities and policy issues that do not emanate from approved official communication channels should be ignored.
Media practitioners are enjoined to, at all times, crosscheck their stories to ensure accurate reportage, which is the hallmark of responsible journalism.
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