NEWS
Political Office Holders not Overpaid– RMAFC
The Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Alhaji Muhammed Shehu, has said that political office holders in Nigeria do not earn outrageous emoluments as speculated by Nigerians.
Shehu made the announcement in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja.
NAN reports that Nigerians recently condemned reports on a proposed 114 per cent increase in salaries of political office holders by the commission, amid what they described as biting economic hardships in the country.
Shehu described information about the salary increase as not true.
He, however, said that it was the constitutional responsibility of RMAFC to determine and review the salaries of executive, legislative and judicial officers.
He said that their salaries were last reviewed in 2007.
“From 2008 till date there had not been any single review.
“Last year, some individuals took the Federal Government to court. These were some activists concerned about the salaries of judicial officers.
“In the court, the judge ruled that a judge should be paid about N10 million a month, that was the court ruling, ” he said.
He said that the commission would not contemplate the speculated increase now, considering the prevailing economic challenges faced by Nigerians.
“We are Nigerians, we are not going to start talking about reviewing salaries of political office holders now because of the challenges that the government is facing.
“As a commission, we are going to do our work but we are not going to say we will do it now.
“We will do it when the climate is right and then we will take it forward to the stakeholders for them to decide on what to do.
“I want to disabuse the minds of Nigerians. It is not true that people are getting jumbo salaries.
“The monthly salary of Mr President is less than N1.5 million; that of a minister is not even up to one million naira.
“I know of an average CBN worker that is not even a director, who earns more than a minister.
“People in NNPC, NCC, ports authority earn huge salaries. What is the salary of a governor? What is the salary of a legislator?”
The chairman said that what people considered as outrageous earnings by lawmakers were statutory office running costs, which should, ordinarily be managed centrally by the National Assembly Service Commission.
“I know some people will say members of the National Assembly get up to 10 million or 11 million monthly.
“Those are not salaries, they are like operating cost of running their offices which in other societies the legislator does not have to see because there is a structure.
“Once you get elected, you make that structure from your constituency office to computers to logistics to the size of your constituency.
Shehu said: “wherever you have constituency office, the workers you hire, It is the National Assembly Service commission that is supposed to take care of that.
“But the Nigerian system allows the legislator to be given a certain amount and then he deals with that and retires the receipts,” the RMAFC chief said. (NAN)
From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
An officer of the Nigeria Correctional Centre, Kogi state Command, Olorunpelumi Jacob, who allegedly killed his friend on Tuesday and kept the butchered remains in a refrigerator has committed suicide in a private lodge in Lokoja.The officer whose name was given on the social media as Ayo Pelumi was said to have gruesomely murdered his friend, a photo journalist identified as Ayo Aiyepeku by smashing him on the head with a blunt object, rendering him unconscious, and thereafter proceeded to butcher the victim and later stored the mutilated body parts in a freezer.
The incident happened on Tuesday night in an office located around the Government House/GRA axis of Lokoja, where his suspected assailant reportedly had a farm in the same premises.It was learnt that immediately he committed the murder, he took parts of the body inside his Hilux van and sped off only to return few hours unknown to him that a colleague of the deceased, who was in the office had the distress cry of the photojournalist when he was attacked but could not come to his rescue.It was gathered that the correctional officer had a farm in the compound of the office of the newspaper and had gone to the office by 7.30 pm to call the deceased who he thought was the only one remaining in the office.He was said to have called him to help him put a freezer in his vehicle when he hit him with a big rod and thereafter overpowered him killing him and dismembering his bodyOn returning back to the premises o he was said to have been confronted by some security operatives who had been alerted of the incident.In an attempt to speed off, the tyres of his vehicle were bursted but he managed to escape.The Kogi Police Command on Wednesday launched a manhunt for the suspected ritual killer and urged members of the public who knew his whereabouts to alert the nearest police station.However, at about 2.00pm on Thursday afternoon, the police acting on a tip off stormed into a lodge where the corpse of the killer was recovered.A bottle of coca cola and a sippet was said to have also been seen at the scene of the incident.Meanwhile, sources close to the police said investigation has continued to unravel while the suspected ritualist eventually killed himself.
From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo has pledged full commitment to the “Produce for Lagos” initiative.Ododo described the initiative as a bold inter-state collaboration that will deepen food security, boost agricultural productivity and deliver structured prosperity for farmers.
He made the promise during the official launch of the programme and the N500 billion Offtake Guarantee Fund held at Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja. The event, hosted by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, drew attendance from several state leaders, including the Governors of Ogun, Niger, and Taraba States, as well as representatives from the Governors of Jigawa and Kwara States.All participating states pledged to align with the vision of establishing a sustainable national food supply chain through a dependable partnership with Lagos, Nigeria’s largest consumer market.In his remarks, Ododo emphasized the historical ties between Kogi and Lagos and affirmed that the partnership marks a new era in mutual investment and food system integration.He noted that Lagos consumes food and Kogi produces food, and when both collaborate, the result is national food security, market stability, and inclusive economic growth.The Kogi State Governor highlighted the state’s ongoing investment in agriculture, including land preparation, mechanized farming, improved seedlings, livestock breeding, and financial support to over 10,000 farmers.He stated that Kogi is Nigeria’s leading producer of cassava and among the top producers of yam, maize, and ginger.According to him, the partnership with Lagos provides Kogi farmers with market assurance and confidence to expand production, knowing there is a structured offtake system in place.Ododo also commended Origin Tech Group Nigeria Limited for their investment in the project, describing the private sector as a critical driver of Nigeria’s agricultural transformation.He praised the Lagos State Government for its vision and boldness in launching the ₦500 billion Offtake Guarantee Fund, which is expected to support producers, aggregators, logistics players, and traders across the entire food value chain.The Lagos State Government described the initiative as a strategic step toward creating a food hub for the entire nation.Officials said the programme is designed to reduce post-harvest losses, lower food inflation, and drive down dependency on imports while creating jobs and stimulating rural economies.The programme is also expected to benefit from strong private sector participation, with major players like Heirs Holdings pledging significant support.Chairman Tony Elumelu committed N25 billion to the initiative, expressing confidence in its ability to address food insecurity and unemployment.The launch of the Produce for Lagos initiative was widely praised by stakeholders as a major milestone in cooperative governance.Leaders present emphasized that collaboration among states and between public and private sectors remains the surest path to achieving a resilient and prosperous Nigeria.
From Muhammad Gambo, Damaturu
North East Development Commission in Yobe State, has flagged off the distribution of Building Materials to people of 13 Local Government Areas affected by Flood and Conflicts.The Distribution exercise which took place at the Store of the Commission in Damaturu, also featured the handing over of Search and Rescue Equipment to the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).
Prof. Ali Ibrahim, the State Coordinator of Yobe NEDC, while flagging off the distribution of the materials said, the exercise is part of its effort to minimize the effects of anticipated floods across Yobe State.The Search and Rescue Equipment donated to the State Emergency Management Agency, he said are aimed at minimizing the risk associated with rescue during the anticipated floods noting that SEMA officials face challenges in the process of rescuing victims of flood.Commenting on the support of the search and rescue equipment provided to Yobe SEMA by the NEDC, the Commissioner Yobe State Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management Dr. Mairo Ahmed Amshi and the Executive Secretary of the Agency, Dr. Muhammad Goje said the support came at the right time.With the symbolic flagged off, the Building Materials are handed over to the Chairmen of the benefitting Local Government Areas for onward distribution to the rightful beneficiaries.
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