The presidency has said that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has not approved salary review for elected politicians and judicial officers.
This disclosure is contained in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communications and Strategy, Dele Alake, where he described as misinformation media reports that the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) approved a 114% increase in the salary of the President, Vice President, elected Federal and State political office holders and judicial officers.
Alake said while it is the constitutional duty of the RMAFC to review and increase remuneration, the news of the increase at this time is fake news.
The Presidential Spokesman said, “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.’’
This is misinformation and fake news
Alake in the statement noted that the misinformation and fake news were contrived to create an ill will for the new administration and 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.
- The statement reads, ‘’We have followed with consternation the viral story 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.
- ‘’While we recognize that it is within the constitutional remit of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (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. It is important to note that RMAFC, through its Public Relations Manager, has responded to this fake story being circulated and has already set the record straight.
- ‘’However, this unfounded story gained prominence on social media and in a section of mainstream media, again, bringing to the fore the danger fake news poses to society and our national well-being. The misinformation was, obviously, contrived to create an ill will for the new administration and 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.
- ‘’It is important to reiterate to journalists, media managers, and members of the public that stories on government activities and policy issues that do not emanate from approved official communication channels should be ignored. Media practitioners are enjoined to, at all times, cross-check their stories to ensure accurate reportage, which is the hallmark of responsible journalism.’’