The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has begun a retreat in Kano State to harmonise reports on the review of remuneration packages for political, public, and judicial office holders nationwide, pushing forward despite sharp political backlash.
Declaring the retreat open, RMAFC Chairman and Federal Commissioner representing Gombe State, Mohammed Usman, said the assignment was crucial to Nigeria’s governance structure and long-term stability.
Usman reminded participants that the 1999 Constitution (as amended) empowers the commission to determine remuneration for office holders at all levels.
He noted that steps had already been taken to align the review with prevailing economic realities.
According to him, “The commission carefully considered a wide range of perspectives, including memoranda from stakeholders, public hearings, and ministerial submissions, while also drawing from economic indicators and remuneration practices in other countries.”
While public outcry has trailed the exercise, Usman insisted the review was not merely about raising figures.
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“The commission has equally analysed the capacity of government to implement the review package, ensuring that recommendations remain fair, realistic, and sustainable,” he said.
He disclosed that the committee had been directed to harmonise earlier reports and addendums into a single document to provide a clear and comprehensive framework for implementation.
Appealing to members, he urged them to bring their experience to bear to produce outcomes that are balanced and beneficial to all.
Despite this, the initiative has come under intense criticism. Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, described the proposed salary increase as “insensitive” and “scandalous.”
Similarly, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) rejected the move, calling it tone-deaf and an affront to Nigerians already struggling under economic hardship.
The retreat, according to the commission, is expected to set a sustainable framework for political, public, and judicial office holders’ remuneration, even as the debate intensifies over whether such a move is justified in the current climate.