From Magnus Eze, Enugu
The Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has said that the review of remuneration of political, public and judicial office holders in Nigeria was long overdue.
Chairman of the Commission, Mohammed Bello, who stated this at the one-day zonal public hearing for the South East in Enugu, yesterday, disclosed that the last exercise dates back to 2008, adding that various changes had occurred in the socio-economic indicators and other variables in the country.
He, however, dispelled the notion that the exercise was targeted at increasing the salaries and allowances of political and public office holders in the country.
He insisted that the exercise will be fair, just and equitable in line with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution.
According to him, the aim of the review was to achieve an all-inclusive exercise that will capture all political, public and judicial office holders at all levels in the country who were previously not captured.
“The specific objectives of this review exercise are as follows: design a remuneration package for the political, public and judicial office holders in conformity with changing socio-economic realities and other variables in the country.
“Close the gap in salary disparity existing among political and public office holders. Come up with a salary structure for the judicial office holders in keeping with the best international practice and guarantee delivery of justice in the most effective and efficient way
“Draw a remuneration package that would be seen to be just, fair and equitable to the beneficiaries in relation to the different roles they play in the country at all levels,” the Commission Chairman stated.
Enugu State Governor, Chief Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, State Ministry of Finance, Benedict Ezema, said though the exercise was a contentious issue, he believed that the committee will come up with an agreeable and implementable salary structure.