Anger at 114% Salary Increase for President Tinubu, VP Shettima, and Politicians
The Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) plans to raise the salaries of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, governors, judicial officials and other political officeholders.
On presenting the revised salary package to Kebbi State Governor Dr. Nasir Idris, RMAFC Chairman Alhaji Muhammadu Shehu revealed this.
Shehu encouraged the 36 State Houses of Assembly to speed up the amendment of relevant legislation to increase political, judicial, and public official salaries.
This declaration followed rumours that Tinubu, Shettima, governors, judges, and other political leaders had received 114 percent raises.
Shehu, represented by Federal Commissioner Mrs. Rakiya Tanko-Ayuba, said the pay review complies with Paragraph 32(d) of Part 1 of the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Government (as amended). This allows the RMAFC to set political officeholder pay.
The latest salary review was in 2007, resulting in the “Some Political, Public and Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2008.” Shehu stressed the need for a review. Shehu said the constitution’s pay arrangements for office holders should be updated after sixteen years.
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has threatened to sue President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima over the alleged unlawful 114 percent pay increase.
SERAP calls state governor and legislator compensation increases obscenely.
SERAP tweeted that they will sue Tinubu over the “outrageous and unlawful 114 percent rise in the wages of the President, vice president, state governors, and parliamentarians, while over 133 million Nigerians suffer in abject poverty.”
The RMAFC, which determines political officeholders’ payment, has urged the 36 state Houses of Assembly to quickly alter applicable legislation to allow for upward political, judicial, and public official pay reviews.
On Tuesday, Federal Commissioner Rakiya Tanko-Ayuba delivered the revised pay package reports to Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris in Birnin Kebbi. Chairman Muhammadu Shehu made this call.
UK Government Explains Nigerian Student Family Restriction
The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, recently clarified the UK government’s 2024 prohibition on overseas students, including Nigerians, bringing family members. The policy addresses housing infrastructure and migration issues.
Montgomery explained his decision to Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Presidential House in Abuja. He added that the rising number of students bringing their dependents to the UK has placed a burden on student housing and services. The UK government thinks migration must be regulated to preserve balance.
The British High Commissioner said that 10% of UK visas are issued to Nigerian students, who have risen in number. He praised Nigerian students’ achievements in the UK and the strong bilateral connection.
International students, educational institutions, and some British lawmakers argue that the decision may exacerbate labour shortages in critical sectors like healthcare and diminish the UK’s status as a top destination for international talent. Still, Montgomery affirmed the need to manage visitor numbers and migration, drawing a parallel with the Nigerian government’s actions in a similar situation.
The gathering also discussed Nigeria’s Bola Tinubu administration’s policy orientation, which UK investors have praised. Montgomery said that the Nigerian government’s subsidy elimination and currency rate reform are improving investment conditions.
He pledged the British government’s assistance for Nigeria’s efforts to mitigate the consequences of the petroleum subsidy cut and reduce economic pressures.
The British High Commissioner stressed that Nigeria has great trade and investment potential. He promised to expand bilateral commerce and investment.
