Dele Alake, the special adviser to the president on
communications and strategy, says President Bola Tinubu has not approved a
salary review for political office holders and judicial officers.
In a statement on Thursday, Alake said while it is the
constitutional duty of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal
Commission (RMAFC) to review and increase remuneration, news of an increase at
this time is fake news.
On Wednesday, Muhammad Shehu, the chairman of RMAFC, said
the salaries of politicians, judicial and public office holders will be
increased by 114 percent.
He said the move was in accordance with the provisions of
paragraph 32(d) of part 1 of the Third Schedule of the 1999 constitution of
Nigeria (as amended).
Shehu said the legislature should move quickly on the
amendment of relevant laws to pave the way for an upward review of income
packages for the aforementioned.
However, the development elicited criticisms from Nigerians,
with many interpreting the move to mean that the salaries of politicians have
been increased, at a time when ordinary Nigerians have been told to endure
economic hardship for a better tomorrow.
Christian Nwachukwu, the spokesperson of RMAFC, denied that
the commission had approved the increment of salaries for public office
holders, adding that the issue is only under review.
Reacting to the development, Alake said no such proposal has
been brought to the president for consideration.
“While we recognise that it is within the constitutional
remit of 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,” he said.
“However, that this unfounded story gained prominence on
social media and in a section of mainstream media, again, brings to the fore the
danger fake news poses to society and our national well-being.
“The misinformation was, obviously, contrived to create
ill-will for the new administration, slow down the upward momentum and massive
goodwill the Tinubu-led administration is currently enjoying among Nigerians as
a result 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.”
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