The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), an agency of the federal government incharge of fixing salaries and allowances for political office officers and the judiciary has commenced the process of review the renumeration.
The RMAFC said in a statement that the review process has started but it’s not immediately clear weather it’s upward or downward review. However, the ordinary citizens have consistently queried why politicians for earning so much and have called from for a downward review of their renumeration.
A statement released on Tuesday by Mr. Nwachukwu Christian, the public relations officer for RMAFC said the Commission has “concluded arrangements to start the process for carrying out the review of the remuneration for Political, Public and Judicial office holders in the country.”
The statement quoted the Chairman of the Commission, Mohammed Bello Shehu to have said this during a courtesy visit to the Chairman, Nigerian Governors Forum, Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto state in his office in Abuja recently.
Mohammed Bello pointed out that pursuant to the functions of RMAFC in paragraph 32(D) of part 1 to the third schedule of 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, empowers the Commission to determine the remuneration appropriate to political, Public and Judicial office holders in the country informing that the last time the review was carried out was 2008 which makes it even over due for review.
In his speech, Gov. Aminu Tambuwal congratulated Bello Shehu on his new appointment as RMAFC Chairman while pointing out that RMAFC as one of the constitutional bodies in the country has been underfunded over the years thereby making it difficult for the Commission to function properly in monitoring all the revenue accruals into and from the revenue account noting that the Commission should rather be funded on a first line charge. This will possibly help the Commission go into digital monitoring and tracking of all accruable revenues into the Federation account thereby increasing revenues for sharing among the three tiers of government.
Gov Tambuwal further encouraged the readiness of RMAFC to commence the process for the review of remuneration exercise while pointing out that the salaries of Judges in the country particularly is one of the least in Public service.
