The Public, Political, and Judicial Officers Remuneration Review has been completed, according to the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).
According to a statement from the RMAFC, the assurance was given by the commission’s chairman, Mohammed Bello Shehu, when he paid the chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto, a courtesy visit at his office in Abuja.
Shehu stated that paragraph 32(D) of part 1 to the third schedule of 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, empowers the Commission to determine the remuneration appropriate to political, public and judicial office holders in the country.
He informed Tambuwal that the last time the remuneration review for these categories of Nigerians “was carried out was 2008 which makes it even over due for review”.
He lamented what he described as the poor remuneration of public, political and judicial office holders, exposing them to corrupt tendencies.
According to him: “The salaries of members of the House is even worse but because they claim they are independent they packaged all sorts of allowances.
“There is a need for that review. I have seen a magistrate that earns N150,000 a month. That is a magistrate, somebody who passes judgement. Ask around, it will shock you, they are all over Nigeria, they don’t have housing, they don’t have transportation, they have very difficult conditions of service”.
“I think it’s about time this is reviewed for national good because we have to be able to take care of judicial officers apart from the ministers and permanent secretaries.”