Muhammad Shehu, the Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), has asserted that political office holders in Nigeria do not receive exorbitant emoluments, contrary to popular belief. He made this statement during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
Shehu argued that some civil servants in Nigeria earn higher salaries than ministers and legislators. He emphasized that politicians have not seen a salary increase since 2007, countering the perception that they receive extravagant compensation.
According to Shehu, the monthly salary of the Nigerian President is less than N1.5 million, and a minister earns less than one million naira. He further cited examples of certain workers in government agencies like the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and the Nigerian Ports Authority who earn substantial salaries.
Regarding legislators, Shehu clarified that what is often mistaken for “jumbo salaries” are actually operating costs associated with running their offices. He noted that in other countries, legislators do not handle these costs directly, as there is a structured system in place for that purpose. Shehu stressed that these costs should be properly documented and accounted for, with receipts submitted for accountability.
He also mentioned that the RMAFC is responsible for determining and reviewing the salaries of executive, legislative, and judicial officers in Nigeria. However, there has not been any salary review for political office holders since 2007, and any future review would be considered when the appropriate conditions arise.
Shehu’s remarks come in response to the controversy surrounding the proposed salary increase for political office holders, with many Nigerians expressing concern about such increases amid economic challenges and rising prices of goods and services in the country.
