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Tag: RMAFC

  • FG Confirms 114% Salary Increase For Politicians, Judges

    FG Confirms 114% Salary Increase For Politicians, Judges

    The Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC, said that it plans an upward salaries review for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kasim Shettima, governors, judiciary officers and other political office holders.

    According to NAN, the Chairman of RMAFC, Alhaji Muhammadu Shehu, disclosed this at the presentation of reports of the reviewed remuneration package to Kebbi State Governor, Dr Nasir Idris, on Tuesday in Birnin Kebbi.

    However, Shehu did not state the per cent salary increment; he urged the 36 State Houses of Assembly to hasten efforts to amend relevant laws to allow the review of remuneration packages for political, judicial and public officers upward.

    Shehu’s statement comes amid speculations that Tinubu, Shettima, governors, judges and other political persons’ salaries had been increased by 114 per cent.

    The RMAFC chairman, represented by the Federal Commissioner, Mrs Rakiya Tanko-Ayuba, said the proposed salary review is in line with the provisions of Paragraph 32(d) of Part 1 of the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Government (as amended).

    He said: “It empowers the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission to determine the remuneration appropriate for political office holders, including the President, Vice President, Governors, Deputy Governors, Ministers, Commissioners, Special Advisers, Legislators and the holders of the offices mentioned in Sections 84 and 124 of the Constitution of the federal government.”

    Shehu said the last review of the remuneration was carried out in 2007, which culminated in the “Certain Political, Public and Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2008.

    “Sixteen years after the last review, it is imperative that the Remuneration Packages for the categories of the office holders mentioned in relevant Sections of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) should be reviewed,” he added.

  • Revenue: Gbajabiamila Assures RMAFC of House’s Support for Efficient Mobilisation, Allocation

    Revenue: Gbajabiamila Assures RMAFC of House’s Support for Efficient Mobilisation, Allocation

    …Speaker asks agency to explain salary, allowances of legislators to public

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, has assured the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) of the support of the legislature in strengthening the delivery of its core mandate of mobilising revenue for the government. 

    Gbajabiamila stated that since no country could go far in terms of development without revenue, it was the priority of the House to ensure that RMAFC performed its duties optimally.

    Gbajabiamila, who spoke on Thursday in Abuja when he received a delegation from the commission at the National Assembly, cited the ongoing amendment of the 1999 Constitution and other relevant laws to not only strengthen RMAFC but also expand the scope of revenue available to the three tiers of government as an example.

    The delegation was led by the chairman of the commission, Alhaji Mohammed Bello Shehu.

    “It is revenue that takes a country from point to point; for any country that wants to grow, revenue is key to nation-building.

    “That is why RMAFC is an essential component of the government in this country,” Gbajabiamila stated.

    The Speaker said the National Assembly made a lot of amendments in the ongoing constitution review to improve the work of the RMAFC, including new allocations to tiers of government.

    However, he noted that much of the new changes depended on how soon the 36 states voted on the amendments now pending before them.

    Gbajabiamila told the visitors that everyone, including President Muhammadu Buhari, was waiting for the states to turn in their report on the amendments before any further actions could be taken by the government.

    He said, “There are issues about the exclusive and concurrent lists, which you mentioned; how we are going to allocate revenue and all that.

    “Well, it’s before the states and we are waiting for them. We will put pressure on them and ensure we achieve it. Mr President has said that it is the only thing he is waiting for.”

    Gbajabiamila, who advised RMAFC to build a central monitoring platform to monitor revenue movements in all government revenue-generating agencies, asked the commission to submit a detailed proposal on its needs to enable the House to work on it speedily.

    The Speaker also seized the opportunity of the visit to call on RMAFC to consider enlightening Nigerians on the distinction between the salary and allowances of legislators. 

    He observed that the controversy over the pay of lawmakers and making it a public debate all the time was caused by the lumping of the salaries and allowances of lawmakers together.

    According to Gbajabiamila, allowances are tied to sundry duties or work of the office of a lawmaker like maintaining a constituency office, while the salary is the actual pay he earns as a legislator.

    “You need to explain to the public the difference between salary and allowances. A lot of people lump them together and call them our take-home package. Salary is different and allowances are meant for many other issues.

    “This explanation should be part of what you are working on right now regarding the judiciary and political office holders”, he added.

    Speaking earlier, Shehu appealed to the Speaker to do all within his good office to ensure that a new constitution and other legislation that could help RMAFC perform better were concluded timely.

    He also appealed for more funding for the commission through alternative sources outside the statutory allocation by the Federal Ministry of Finance.

    Shehu, who complained that big revenue agencies barely tolerated the commission by providing limited information on their revenue performance, urged the National Assembly to further empower RMAFC through the review of its laws, among other legislative interventions.

  • Gbajabiamila tasks RMAFC on fair, just review of revenue allocation

    Gbajabiamila tasks RMAFC on fair, just review of revenue allocation

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, has charged the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to ensure a fair, just and equitable review of revenue allocation in the country.

    The Speaker said in its attempt to review the revenue allocation in the country, which was last done almost 30 years ago, the commission should ensure that all stakeholders were carried along and that all necessary things are done so that the final report could not be faulted.

    Gbajabiamila, who hosted the management of the commission led by its chairman, Engr. Elias Mbam for a courtesy call on the leadership of the House on Tuesday at the National Assembly, said the current realities should necessitate a review of the revenue allocation.

    “I’m glad you’re here. Your commission is one of the unsung heroes. You’re of the 14 institutions established by the constitution, while all others were established by other laws.

    “It’s almost 30 years that the last review was done. It’s such a long time. A lot has changed from 1992 to date.

    “I charge you to do your review, not based on any sentiment. You should consult widely so that your report won’t be faulted. I’m glad you said you’re conducting public hearings. It’s good to do that, to seek people’s opinions.

    “You should work based on the principles of justice, equity and fairness,” Gbajabiamila said, adding that Nigeria is a peculiar country, hence the need to do a thorough and diligent review.

    He said the House would support the commission in whatever way possible, noting that the commission’s management was at the right place to seek support.

    On the issue of amendment of the RMAFC Act, Gbajabiamila asked the agency to provide specific areas that needed to be amended, especially on the issue of the Petroleum Industry Act as cited by Engr. Mbam.

    “In terms of autonomy, I need to know if you don’t enjoy autonomy and how you’re not autonomous. The House is here to partner with you. We must work together. We must give you the enabling environment to operate effectively.”

    Earlier, Engr Mbam informed the House leadership that the visit was to seek the support, advice and guidance of the House on the planned review of revenue allocation that the commission was to embark on.

    He said since the last review in 1992, things have changed and that there was the need to review the revenue allocation to accommodate those changes.

    He said: “We now feel strongly that the review has become necessary. A lot of things have changed since 1992.

    “There are concerns now that were not there before. So, there is the need to review the allocation to make sure that what every tier of government gets is in line with its current responsibilities.”

    As part of the plans for the review, Engr Mbam said the commission has embarked on wide consultations across the country including visiting past presidents, the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, the judiciary, Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) as well as engagements with the media, CSOs, among others.

    He said the commission has commenced sensitization in different states and that it would hold public hearings with regard to the planned review, starting with the Southwest next week.

    Engr Mbam thanked the Speaker for accepting to host them on short notice, saying “if all Nigerians will work like this, we all will be better for it.”