There are strong indications that the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission may not meet the September deadline it set for coming up with new remuneration packages for political and public office holders, including President Muhammadu Buhari.
Our correspondent on Friday learnt that the agency still had to hold a retreat before it could sift through the recommendations it received and the surveys it conducted to fashion out a new remuneration package for public office holders.
It was learnt that it was at the retreat that the subject would be deliberated on.
Chairman of RMAFC, Mr. Elias Mbam, who confirmed this in a telephone interview with our correspondent in Abuja, said the retreat would hold after the public holidays, although he was not specific on the date.
Mbam said the agency would stick to its deadline but added that should the deadline be missed, it would not be far from the set time.
He said, “We are working with the deadline even though we are not God. We have concluded discussion with the Federal Government through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
“We have held consultations with the President of the Senate, the Clerk of the National Assembly and the National Assembly Service Commission. We have finished consultation at the zones which included the states and the local government areas. We will meet in a retreat.
“We will not only be looking at the dignity of office; we will also be looking at sustainability before we fix the remunerations.”
RMAFC had in June set in motion the process for the downward review of the existing salaries and allowances of political, public and judicial office holders when it set up a committee chaired by its Chairman of the Remuneration Committee, Mr. Abdullahi Inde.
At the inauguration of a committee, Mbam had urged the committee to be conscious of the prevailing economic situation and the need to reduce cost of governance so as to free more funds for development.
The salaries and allowances of politicians have been controversial with many Nigerians expressing anger over what they term outrageous remuneration of politicians. Allowances and other perks of office of politicians are also seen as heftier than the salaries.
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