By Vivien Emoni

The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has urged states, local government councils and legislators to strictly adhere to provisions of law in the implementation of remuneration packages.

Dr Mohammed Shehu, the Chairman of RMAFC, spoke at a one-day workshop on implementation of remunerations on Thursday in Abuja.

The theme of the workshop was “Role of the States Executive/Legislature in Implementing the Recommendations of RMAFC with respect to Remuneration Package for Political, Public and Judicial Office Holders in Nigeria.’’

Shehu said that one of the functions of the commission was to advise the federal and state governments on fiscal efficiency and methods by which their revenue could be increased.

He said the respect for the remuneration law at all levels of government would go a long way in ensuring good governance and reduce the cost of governance in Nigeria.

“The idea of this workshop is to draw the attention of the stakeholders of the state executive/legislature and the local goverments on the need to strictly adhere to the provision of the law in the implementation of the remuneration package.

“The disregard of the commission’s determined remuneration package for elected councilors at the local government level has remained a point of concern to the commission.

”Local government legislative councils constitute the legislative arm of the third tier, unlike appointed councilors that form the executive council whose remuneration is to be prescribed by the state House of Assembly based on the recommendations of the commission.

“The remuneration of the legislative arm remains within the realms of the commission`s constitutional powers.’’

The chairman said that in October, 2023, the commission reviewed the remuneration of judicial office holders.

“In carrying out the review, the commission was guided by some principles such as equity and fairness.

“The commission applies equal treatment and uniformity of salaries, allowances and benefits for positions adjudged to entail equal input.

“In addition, the remuneration package should not be such that it rewards a newly appointed office holder higher than an older colleague in similar posts,’’ he said.

Shehu said that the remuneration of all political, public and judicial office holders should be commensurate with the risk and respective responsibilities attached to each office.

According to him, it must fit the purpose, responsibilities, powers and activities attached to the position.

He said that the remuneration should be designed in a manner such that it was capable of attracting and retaining the right calibre of manpower.

According to him, the workshop is organised to enlighten key stakeholders in the state executive/legislature and other operators in the implementation of the remuneration package as provided in the commission’s remuneration reports.

He advised the executive and legislative arms at the state level to adhere strictly to the provisions of the 1999 constitution.

Shehu said that the constitution was amended in implementing the remuneration package for political and public office holders at the state and local government levels.

The Chairman, Remuneration and Monetisation Committee, Mr Mohammed Usman, said that the workshop would adequately address the challenges being faced in implementing the remuneration package of the commission.

He called on participants to be active in the deliberations to achieve some of the objectives of the workshop. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chijioke Okoronkwo