Nigerian govt. to seek citizens’ input in review of pay for president, lawmakers, others

The Abdullahi Inde –led committee constituted recently by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission to review the salaries and allowances of political, public and judicial officeholders will soon call for public presentation of memoranda as it has commenced sitting.

The Spokesperson of the Commission, Ibrahim Mohammed, said the memoranda would enable Nigerians contribute their views on the subject to ensure that the final result represents the people’s wish on the salaries and allowances of public officeholders.

There have been growing concern over the huge salaries and allowances earned by Nigerian public office holders, especially federal lawmakers.

Nigerian lawmakers are reputed as the world’s highest paid.

The Chairman of the Commission, Elias Mbam, had, during the inauguration of the pay review committee, asked members to consider the provisions of the Remuneration Act, 2008, which stipulates salaries and allowances for political, public and judicial office-holders, and come up with appropriate recommendations for a new pay package for them.

The Chairman had reminded the Adhoc committee to take into consideration the prevailing economic situation in the country and ensure that their recommendations are in line with the drive of the present administration to cut cost and reduce government recurrent expenditure so as to save funds for more pressing development issues.

Specifically, the committee was asked to do a comprehensive review of the current law on salaries and allowances with a view to identifying areas of wastages and abuses; examine the implementation of the monetisation policy by government Ministries, Departments and Agencies, and come up with appropriate recommendations on remunerations that would reflect the work political, public and judicial officers do.

The RMAFC, Mr. Mbam explained, has the constitutional responsibility to undertake periodic reviews of the remuneration packages as my become necessary to take care of current economic realities in the country; advise governments at all levels on monetisation policies as well as generate cost of living indices for the purpose revision of allowances, among others.

In carrying out the assignment, the committee is expected to carry out wide consultations among all critical stakeholders in the economy, including all arms of government at all levels, national and state assemblies representatives, state and local governments, professional groups, organised labour, academia, media and the general public to capture the views of all Nigerians.