The Presidency has said President Bola Tinubu has not approved any pay raise for public office holders.
This followed reports that the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation, and Fiscal Commission had approved a 114 percent increase in the salary of the President, Vice President, elected Federal and State political office holders, and judicial officers.
While debunking the reported pay rise which would have increased the president’s monthly salary to N8 million, the presidency said in a statement on Thursday by the Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communication and Strategy, Mr. Dele Alakethat “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.”
Titled ‘No presidential approval for salary increase for political office holders and judicial officers,’ the statement said: “While we recognise that it is within the constitutional remit of the RMAFC 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 alleged that the narrative was “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.”
Therefore, Alake advised that updates on government activities and policy issues that do not emanate from approved official communication channels should be ignored.
The reported 114 percent salary increase for political and judicial office holders is not true according to the presidency.
Following is the full statement titled “No presidential approval for salary increase 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 Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission to propose and fix salaries and allowances of political office holders and Judicial Officers, such can not 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, 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 the 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.
“Media practitioners are enjoined to, at all times, cross-check their stories to ensure accurate reportage, which is the hallmark of responsible journalism.”
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