President Bola Tinunu has denied reports of a 114% increase in the salary of the President, Vice President, elected Federal and State political office holders and judicial officers.
This was revealed in a statement by the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Media Centre and signed by Dele Alake, president’s Special Adviser on Special Duties, Communications & Strategy on Thursday.
Mr Alake acknowledged that the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission has the constitutional authority to propose and fix the salaries and allowances of political office holders and judicial officers and that such measures cannot take effect until they have been taken into consideration and approved by the President.
The statement said the RMAFC approved 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,” Alake said.
He said though it is within the constitutional remit of the Commission 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.
“However, that this unfounded story gained prominence on social media and in a section of mainstream media, again, brings to the fore the danger fake news poses to the society and our national well-being.
“The misinformation was, obviously, contrived to create ill-will for the new administration, 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,” he said.
Alake further advised members of the public to disregard reports on government activities and policy issues that do not emanate from approved official communication channels.
