President Bola Tinubu has declared that he did not approve a salary increase for elected politicians and other public office holders in the country.

Tinubu described the reports of the salary increment which have since been eliciting reactions across the country as “fake”

The President made the declaration via a statement issued on Thursday, June 22, by his Special Adviser on Special Duties, Communications and Strategy, Dele Alake.

The Star recalls that the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), on Tuesday, said the salaries of politicians, judicial, and public office holders will be increased by 114 per cent.

The RMAFC chairman, Muhammad Shehu, who made this known, said the move was in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 32(d) of part 1 of the Third Schedule of the 1999 constitution (as amended).

Reacting, Alake said: “We have followed with consternation the viral story of the purported 114% increase in the salary of the President, Vice President, elected Federal and State political office holders, and judicial officers.

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“We state without any equivocation that President Bola Tinubu has not approved any salary increase, and no such proposal has been brought before him for consideration.

“While we recognise that it is within the constitutional remit of Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to propose and fix salaries and allowances of political office holders and Judicial Officers, such cannot come to effect until it has equally been considered and approved by the President.

“It is important to note that RMAFC, through its Public Relations Manager, has responded to this fake story being circulated and has already set the record straight.

“However, that this unfounded story gained prominence on social media and in a section of mainstream media, again, brings to the fore the danger fake news poses to the society and our national well-being.

“The misinformation was, obviously, contrived to create ill-will for the new administration, slow down the upward momentum and massive goodwill the Tinubu-led administration is currently enjoying among Nigerians as a result of its fast paced, dynamic and progressive policies.”

The Star