The special adviser to the president on special duties, communications and strategy, Dele Alake has debunked the reports that President Bola Ahmed has approved a salary review for political office holders and judicial officers.
Alake, in a statement released on Thursday, said though it is within the constitutional duty of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to review and increase remuneration, the news of the increase at this time is fake.
Obi faults proposed 114% salary increment
Meanwhile, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in February 25 presidential election, Peter Obi, had condemned the purported action of the president over the purported increment for elected politicians, saying this is not the time for such.
Obi, while reacting to the proposed increment, in a Twitter thread on Thursday, said the country is struggling with harsh economic realities and focus should be on cutting the cost of governance and and not increase the salary at this stage, calling for the immediate reversal of the proposed salary increment, adding that leaders should prioritise what affects the masses and those on the lower strata of society over themselves.
He said, “I learnt with great reservation, the approval of a 114% increase in the salaries of elected politicians, including the president, vice-president, governors, lawmakers as well as judicial and public office holders by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).”
“This is not the appropriate time for such salary increment if it is at all necessary. We are living in a time when an average Nigerian is struggling with many harsh economic realities and with over 130 million Nigerians now living in poverty.
“This is a moment when recent reform measures by the government have increased living costs astronomically.
“One would expect the leaders and public office-holders to focus on cutting the cost of governance, alleviating the sufferings of Nigerians. This moment calls for creative ways of pulling the majority out of poverty.
“The leaders, therefore, should prioritize what affects the masses and those on the lower strata of society over themselves. The sacrifice, at this time in our nation, should be borne by the leaders.
“The increment should be reversed immediately, and the savings should be devoted to fixing education, healthcare and poverty alleviation especially in the remote rural areas.”