Headlines
Why We Increased Tinubu’s Salary to N8m Per Month – RMAFC
The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has adjusted the remuneration of President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and other political and judicial officeholders by 114 per cent.
Mr Tinubu will earn N8,013,527 monthly, a 114 per cent increase from former President Muhammadu Buhari’s monthly salary of N3,514,705, according to a report presented by RMAFC chairman, Muhammadu Shehu, on Tuesday in Birnin Kebbi.
Mr Shehu presented the reports of the reviewed remuneration package to Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris.
The RMAFC chairman, represented by the federal commissioner, Rakiya Tanko-Ayuba, presented the report to the governor during a courtesy visit at the Government House, Birnin Kebbi.
Mr Shehu said the move was in line with paragraph 32(d) of Part 1 of the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution, which empowers the commission to review the remuneration of political office holders.
Recalling that the last review of the remuneration was carried out in 2007, Mr Shehu said the commission held a public hearing in all the geopolitical zones to deliberate on the review of remuneration packages on February 1.
The chairman said the commission reviewed the remuneration packages in the reports based on subjective and objective criteria.
“The subjective criteria reflected the various expressions by stakeholders through memoranda received, opinions expressed during the zonal public hearings and responses to questionnaires administered.
“The objectives of the criteria were obtained from analysis of macro-economic variables, particularly the Consumer Price Index (CPI),” he noted.
He added that the commission was also guided by some principles, including equity and fairness; risk and responsibilities; national order of precedence; motivation and tenure of office.
Mr Shehu said concerning allowances and fringe benefits, the commission recommended that the existing allowances be maintained at the current levels since that would translate to higher provisions in actual amounts when applied on the reviewed annual basic salary.
The chairman explained that concerning the judicial office holders, the commission considered introducing three new allowances.
He listed the allowances to include “Professional Development Assistant: This is to allow for the provision of two law clerks to all judicial officers in the country.
“Long Service Allowance: This is to guarantee seniority/hierarchy between officers who have been on the bench for a minimum of five years and those that are appointed newly as well as Restricted or Forced Lifestyle: This is to take care of the nature of the lifestyle of judicial officers while in active service.”
Mr Shehu said the commission recommended January 1, 2023, as the effective date for implementing the reviewed remuneration packages.
He urged the 36 states Houses of Assembly to hasten efforts to amend relevant laws to allow for upward review of remuneration packages for political, judicial and public officers.
The work by the State Houses of Assembly will allow for the commencement of implementation of the reviewed remuneration packages for political, public and judicial officers.
The state governor with his deputy, Abubakar Tafida; speaker of the Kebbi State House of Assembly, Muhammadu Ankwai; acting chief judge of the state, Umar Abubakar; the SSG, Yakubu Tafida; head of service, Safiyanu Bena; and the chief of staff, Attahiru Maccido, keenly listened to the presentation.
The governor pledged that the committee under his chairmanship would justly look into the report and convey the same to the appropriate quarters for necessary action.
NAN
Headlines
Abiola Cannot Be Recognised As Former President; He Was Never Sworn-in – Gen Ishola Williams
By Eric Elezuo
One of the prime actors of the June 12, 1993 incidents, General Ishola Williams, has said that much as Chief MKO Abiola wrong was created having won the election, and denied victory, he cannot be recognized as a former President of Nigeria.
Gen Williams made his revelation while speaking as a guest on Channels television socio-political programme, Inside Source.
He maintained that only those who were sworn in that recognised as former presidents, and Abiola was never sworn in.
“Abiola cannot be recognised as former president because he was never sworn in.
The General, who said that he resigned from the army as a result of the wholesome reception given to General Sani Abacha, when he overthrew Chief Ernest Shonekan-led Interim National Government, contrary to expectation, also picked flaws in the narratives given by former Military President Ibrahim Babangida, in his recently launched book, A Journey In Service.
Williams rose in the army to become the Commandant of Army Signals, Commander of Training and Doctrine (TRADOC) and Chief of Defence Training and Planning, from where he resigned.
Headlines
Breaking: Supreme Court Recognises Martin Amaewhule As Rivers Assembly Speaker, Orders CBN to Stop Releasing Funds to State
By Eric Elezuo
The Supreme Court of Nigeria has in its ruling on Friday recognised Hon Martins Amaewhule as the authentic speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, mandating him to urgently resume sitting with elected members of the assembly.
The apex court also ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria to stop releasing to the Rivers State government until a proper assembly is constituted.
Details soon…
Tension escalated at the Lagos State House of Assembly on Thursday as impeached Speaker Mudashiru Obasa made a dramatic return to reclaim his position.
Accompanied by heavily armed men, Obasa stormed the Assembly complex in a bold move that has thrown the State’s legislature into turmoil.
In a stunning turn of events, security details assigned to the substantive Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mojisola Meranda, were abruptly withdrawn on Thursday morning, clearing the path for Obasa’s controversial comeback.
Sources revealed that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) ordered the withdrawal of all security operatives attached to Meranda, leaving her exposed in the midst of an intensifying power struggle.
The Speaker’s Special Adviser on Information, Mr. Victor Ganzallo, expressed concern over the security vacuum created by the withdrawal of personnel.
“In the early hours of Thursday, we woke up to the startling news that all security details assigned to Madam Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, had been withdrawn.
This includes the police and DSS officers, leaving her exposed to threats amid the ongoing speakership crisis,” Ganzallo stated.
He further called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, as the State’s Chief Security Officer, to intervene urgently to prevent a complete breakdown of law and order within the Assembly.
“The withdrawal of security personnel has left the Assembly naked and vulnerable at a critical time. Urgent action is needed to restore order,” he pleaded.
With the speakership battle taking a dramatic new turn, political watchers are keenly observing how the crisis will unfold in the coming days.
