The Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation, and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has approved a 114 percent increase in the salary of elected officials, including the President, Vice President, Governors, MPs, and judicial and public officeholders.
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The RMAFC is in charge of establishing appropriate compensation for individuals holding political positions, such as the President, Vice President, Governors, Deputy Governors, Ministers, Commissioners, Special Advisers, Legislators, and those holding the aforementioned offices as specified in Sections 84 and 124 of the Constitution.
He stated that the implementation of the reviewed remuneration packages would begin on January 1, 2023, and that the move was in compliance with the requirement of paragraph 32(d) of part 1 of the Third Schedule of the federal government’s 1999 constitution (as modified).
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He stated that the most recent remuneration review took place in 2007, and that it resulted in the “certain political, public, and judicial office holders (salaries and allowances, etc) (Amendment) Act, 2008.”
Shehu stated:
“It delegated authority to the revenue mobilization, allocation, and fiscal commission to determine the appropriate remuneration for political office holders, including the president, vice-president, governors, deputy governors, ministers, commissioners, special advisers, legislators, and holders of the offices mentioned in sections 84 and 124 of the federal government’s constitution.”
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“It is imperative that the remuneration packages for the categories of office holders mentioned in relevant sections of the 1999 constitution (as amended) be reviewed sixteen years after the last review.”
“In light of the foregoing, your Excellency may please recall that on Wednesday, 1st February 2023, the commission held a one-day zonal public hearing on the review of the remuneration package in all six (6) geopolitical zones of the country.” The exercise’s goal was to collect input/ideas from a wide range of stakeholders.”
He stated that the commission assessed the wage packages in the reports objectively and subjectively, and that it follows the criteria of equity and justice, risk and obligations, and national order of precedence, among others.
“The subjective criteria reflected the various expressions of stakeholders via memoranda received, opinions expressed during zonal public hearings, and responses to questionnaires administered.”
“The criteria’s objectives were derived from an analysis of macroeconomic variables, particularly the Consumer Price Index (CPI),” he explained.
The commission was also guided by key principles, according to the chairman, including justice and fairness; risk and obligations; national order of precedence; motivation; and duration of office.
Shehu stated that, after considering the economic impact of the review, the salary of political, public, and judicial office holders in the country was adjusted “upward by 114%.”
The chairman stated that the commission was considering the implementation of three new allowances for judicial office holders.
“Professional Development Assistant: This is to allow for the provision of two law clerks to all judicial officers in the country,” he said of the allowances.
“Long Service Allowance: This is to ensure seniority/hierarchy between officers who have been on the bench for at least five years and those who are newly appointed.”