Presidency dismisses report of salary increase for political office holders

The presidency has debunked the viral report of the purported 114% increase in the salary of the President, Vice President, elected Federal and State political office holders and judicial officers.

“We state without any equivocation that President Bola Tinubu has not approved any salary increase, and no such proposal has been brought before him for consideration,” a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communication and Strategy, Dele Alake, read on Thursday.

The statement is titled ‘No presidential approval for salary increase for political office holders and judicial officers.’

Thursday’s release follows reports that the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission had approved a 114 per cent increase in the salary of the President, Vice President, elected Federal and State political office holders and judicial officers.

“While we recognise that it is within the constitutional remit of the RMAFC to propose and fix salaries and allowances of political office holders and Judicial Officers, such cannot come to effect until it has equally been considered and approved by the President,” Alake noted.

The Presidency which said RMAFC had debunked the story making the rounds alleged that the narrative was “contrived to create ill-will for the new administration, slow down the upward momentum and massive goodwill the Tinubu-led administration is currently enjoying among Nigerians as a result of its fast-paced, dynamic and progressive policies.”

Therefore, Alake advised that updates on government activities and policy issues that do not emanate from approved official communication channels should be ignored.