Following 50 per cent drop in revenue, inflation and the high
cost of living, the Federal Government has commenced the review of the
Remuneration Act which will affect what the president, vice president,
governors, and others will earn.
The review will also affect the
remunerations of other political officeholders including the ministers,
the National Assembly members and the judiciary.
Speaking
exclusively to Daily Sun at the weekend, Chairman of Revenue
Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Elias Mbam, said
the review is undergoing a process to determine whether it will be
reviewed upward or downward.
He, however, noted that given the harsh realities on ground, the 2008 Remuneration Act must be reviewed.
“The
commission is not insensitive to the realities on ground. There is a
drop in the oil price, there is a general economic downward trend. Many
states are even finding it difficult to pay salaries. In view of this
situation, the commission has commenced the review of the remuneration
of the present Act of 2008 and by the time we conclude, we will make
public our position with regard to the new Remuneration Act,” he said.
Mbam said the commission will consider other things in tandem with what is happening in other parts of the world.
“The
thing is that we are not working in isolation of other parts of the
world. We are also looking at what is obtainable elsewhere. What is
being paid in the private sector. What type of work do you do? What are
the risks? Does the work require the allowance that you are earning?
What are the shortcomings of the present Remuneration Act? What is the
rate of inflation? So, it is not something you just say, increase or
decrease. But certainly, there will be some changes,” he emphasized.
On
the time-frame of the new remuneration law, the chairman said it should
come up with a new proposal before the end of the third quarter.
“It
is before the end of September because when we come out with our new
proposal, it will still go through the National Assembly for the
executive arm of the government. But for the legislators, our determined
emolument is final. When we conclude, whatever we decide for the
legislators is final. But that of the executive will still go through
legislative process. But whatever they will decide finally will not be
more than what the commission decided,” Mbam noted..
At the
moment, the President earns N3.51 million per year, Vice President
(N3.03 million), Minister (N2.02 million), Minister of State (N1.95
million) and Special Adviser (N1.94 million), Governor (N2.22 million),
Deputy Governor (N2.11 million), and Commissioners
(N1.33 million).
http://sunnewsonline.com/new/?p=122687
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