RMAFC To Review Political, Judicial Officers’ Salaries

In tune with growing public outcry over the intimidating salaries of Nigeria’s political office holders, the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) says work has begun towards reviewing their emolument packages to reflect current economic realities.

Though the Commission is yet to specifically make its areas of concern public, inside sources hinted that aside the emoluments of political officers likely to witness a downward slide, that of judicial office holders are also set for possible upwards review.

Chairman of the Commission, Chief Elias Mbam, who confirmed the development to newsmen in Ebonyi state, said a process to review the remuneration of political and judicial office holders was already in progress.

Mbam spoke on Saturday at Amagu Community in Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, at the 7th ‘Ofala’ festival and 30th anniversary of the coronation of the traditional ruler, Ezeogo Dominic Aloh, Erima-Ogwudu III of Amagu Kingdom.

The RMAFC boss, who was conferred with a chieftaincy title of ‘Aka Ekpuchi Onwa II by the traditional ruler, said in line with its statutory mandate, the Commission would soon conduct a public hearing on the issue, to allow the citizens contribute to the process.

According to him; “One of the major responsibilities of our commission is to determine remunerations appropriate for political and judicial office holders. In doing that, the financial situation of the country, at any giving time, is taken into consideration, including inflation and the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), among others.

“The commission being conscious that a lot has happened since the last review, have commenced the process of another review to reflect the changing realities.

“We have progressed and we believe that before the end of 2021 something concrete will happen.”

While declining to confirm if the salary would be reviewed downward or upwards, Mbam said the process was ongoing and would be influenced by a number of indices, adding; “It is a process and the process at the end determines what it will be; when we go through the process, if it comes out to be increase, we increase, if it is decrease we do it.”

Mbam, however, enjoined Nigerians to participate in the review, noting that there would be public hearings and invitations for memoranda from members of the public, including institutions under the three tiers of government.

The RMAFC boss also spoke on the diversification of the nation’s economy, noting that the solid minerals sector had been contributing immensely to the economy since his assumption of duty as chairman of the Commission.

He said Commission embarked on sensitisation and advocacy campaigns to all tiers of government, as well as across the 36 states of the federation, to encourage revenue diversification, which was yielding results.

“Before I came in, solid minerals was not contributing to the federation accounts, but now solid minerals is a major source of revenue, we want to focus more on that.

“We also want to make agriculture, tourism and manufacturing, major contributors to our national revenue and we believe that it won’t be long and we will be getting more revenue from diversification,” the RMAFC chairman said.

On the title conferred on him, Mbam said it was a call to higher responsibilities, adding that the honour would spur him to contribute more to the development of society.

He said also the ‘Ofala’ festival was very important because of its significance for cultural revivalism in Igbo society, explaining that anybody who lost his culture was equivalent to losing his identity. – With NAN reports