18 Years After: RMAFC moves to review president, governors, lawmakers’ pay
By Babajide Komolafe, Economy Editor
The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has completed a significant review of the compensation for political office holders, marking the first such evaluation in 18 years. The proposed remuneration and revenue allocation bills are expected to be submitted to the National Assembly by the end of the year.
Dr. Mohammed Bello Shehu, chairman of the RMAFC, made the announcement during a breakfast meeting with members of the Guild of Editors in Lagos on Wednesday.
Shehu noted that the review encompassed salaries for the president, governors, deputy governors, legislators, and other political office holders. He emphasized that the current salary structure has remained unchanged since legislation enacted in 2007 and 2008.
“Since 2008, there have been no legal reviews of salaries for legislators, ministers, governors, or the president,” Shehu stated. He recounted two previous attempts to update salaries, first in 2013 and again in 2022, but both failed to advance due to inaction from former Presidents Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari.
“The salaries of legislators, including senators and House members, are still based on the 2007/2008 Act,” he added.
The chairman confirmed that the latest review has been finalized and is in the process of being officially drafted with the Federal Ministry of Justice. “We have sent a copy to the President and received a draft of a new Act back from the Ministry of Justice. We are currently reviewing it to ensure consistency with our findings,” he explained.
Shehu expressed concern that the long-standing stagnation of salaries for political office holders is no longer viable, highlighting the significant changes in the cost of living since 2008. “The Commission advocates for fair wages for fair work. A monthly salary of less than N1 million for a minister is unreasonable,” he remarked, noting that current salaries for ministers and federal commissioners remain unchanged since 2008.
He also argued that adequate compensation could help mitigate corruption among political office holders, stating, “It is essential that they receive reasonable salaries to operate effectively and reduce corrupt practices. A prolonged salary freeze from 2008 is unjustifiable, and reactions to any proposed increases are often negative.”
On the topic of revenue allocation, Shehu revealed that the RMAFC has completed a new formula that addresses the increased responsibilities of state governments. “We have made necessary adjustments and finalized the process. The President is informed, and we are working with the Ministry of Justice to draft the enabling Act,” he noted.
The commission has also received approval for the new formula from its members and expects the remuneration and revenue allocation bills to be ready for submission by the end of the year.
In addressing local government autonomy, Shehu stated that RMAFC has established monitoring committees for both state and local governments, aimed at ensuring proper utilization of their allocations. “We have reinstated monitoring for local governments with a newly formed Local Government Monitoring Committee and a State Monitoring Committee,” he added.
