NEWS
Why We Want Public Officials Salaries Increase By 114% – RMAFC Explains
The rationale behind the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission’s (RMAFC) suggestion for a review of the country’s political office holders at a higher level was presented on Wednesday.
President Bola Tinubu, Senator Kashim Shettima, federal and state legislators, governors, and judicial officials were among the elected public officials whose salaries the commission had proposed increasing by 114%.
To be passed by the National Assembly, an executive bill would first need to receive approval from the president and other cabinet members.
The public, however, which had anticipated the new administration to make expense reductions in order to address the nation’s low revenue and other economic issues, strongly condemns the decision.
But the commission argued that the increment was long overdue, adding that the last time the affected public officials’ salaries were increased was 16 years ago.
Speaking with Arise news, a Federal Commissioner of the RMAFC, Mr. Hassan Usman, noted that elected officials as well as the populace were all confronted with the same economic situation.
The RMAFC is saddled with the responsibility of determining the appropriate remuneration for political office holders, including the President, Vice President, Governors, Deputy Governors, Ministers, Commissioners, Special Advisers, Legislators and the holders of the offices as mentioned in Sections 84 and 124 of this Constitution.
However, as a result of the recommendation, the commission has called on the 36 states’ Houses of Assembly to hasten efforts on the amendment of relevant laws to give room for upward review of remuneration packages for political, judicial and public officers.
According to the commissioner, “The consumer price index is for everybody; private and the public”, adding that the scenario formed part of their consideration for the increment.
While pointing out that the commission could not fold their hands and watch, “until when the sacrificial lamb is dead or killed”, Usman argued that the salary of Nigeria’s President is one of the lowest when compared and with all the other presidents, adding that the annual salary of the president falls around N7 million.
He, however, clarified that the increment was on only the basic salary of the public officials.
“We didn’t increase the allowances. All we did was increase the basic salary and then of course the allowances are there the way they are, they are only commensurate percentages of the basic salary,” he said.
He further explained that the reviews are in four volumes, involving the federal government and the Federal Capital Territory on one hand and the governors, state legislators as well as local governments on the other.
“Volume one entails the review of the federal government and the FCT , volume two for the state government and the local government, volume three is for the judiciary from top to bottom and volume four; is for the legislature, from the federal legislature to the state and even local government council.
“The volumes are there, we have submitted them, they are just recommendations. We have submitted to the office of Mr President and he is going to take them to the National Assembly for the federal government and FCT and those for the states would be legislated upon by the state houses of assembly”, he added.
Earlier, the RMAFC had revealed that it recommended a 114 per cent increase in the salaries of elected politicians, including the president, vice president, governors, lawmakers as well as judicial and public office holders.
He said the last remuneration review was conducted in 2007, noting that it culminated in the, “certain political, public and judicial office holders (salaries and allowances, etc) (Amendment) Act, 2008.”
Shehu said, “It empowers the revenue mobilisation, allocation and fiscal commission to determine the remuneration appropriate for political office holders, including the president, vice-president, governors, deputy governors, ministers, commissioners, special advisers, legislators and the holders of the offices mentioned in sections 84 and 124 of the constitution of the federal government.
“Sixteen years after the last review, it is imperative that the remuneration packages for the categories of the office holders mentioned in relevant sections of the 1999 constitution (as amended) should be reviewed.
“Pursuant to the above, your excellency may please recall that on Wednesday, 1st February, 2023, the commission held a one-day zonal public hearing on the review of the remuneration package simultaneously in all the six geo-political zones of the country. The aim of the exercise was to harvest inputs/ideas from a broad spectrum of stakeholders.”
He said the commission had objectively and subjectively reviewed the salary packages in the reports, adding that it adheres to the rules of equity and fairness, risk and responsibilities, national order of precedence among others.
“The subjective criteria reflected the various expressions by stakeholders through memoranda received, opinions expressed during the zonal public hearings and responses to questionnaires administered.
“The objectives of the criteria were obtained from analysis of macro-economic variables particularly the Consumer Price Index (CPI),” he noted.
The chairman added that the commission was also guided by some principles, including equity and fairness; risk and responsibilities; national order of precedence; motivation and tenure of office.
Shehu said that having considered the impact of the review on the economy, the remuneration of the political, public and judicial office holders in the country was adjusted, “upward by 114 per cent.”
The chairman explained that with respect to the judicial office holders, the commission considered the introduction of three new allowances.
He listed the allowances to include, “Professional Development Assistant: This is to allow for the provision of two law clerks to all judicial officers in the country.
“Long Service Allowance: This is to guarantee seniority/hierarchy between officers who have been on the bench for a minimum of five years and those that are appointed newly.
The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has disclosed that two mobile phones allegedly stolen from members of his team during Friday’s attack in Ado-Ekiti have been traced to locations near the Ekiti State Governor’s Office and Fajuyi Park.
Sowore made the disclosure in a post on X on Sunday, November 1, 2026, while renewing his demand for the release of CCTV footage from Tawakalitu Restaurant, where he and members of his team were attacked on October 30.
According to him, one of the stolen devices was traced to a location directly opposite the office of Governor Biodun Oyebanji, while another was located opposite Fajuyi Park in Ado-Ekiti.
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Describing the discoveries as disturbing, Sowore questioned why the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS) had yet to release the CCTV footage allegedly seized from the restaurant.
“This morning, we tracked two of the devices violently robbed from members of our team during the brutal attack in Ado-Ekiti on Friday, October 30, 2026, and the locations are deeply disturbing,” he wrote.
“One phone was traced to a location directly opposite the office of the Executive Governor of Ekiti State, while our other devices were located opposite Fajuyi Park in Ado-Ekiti,” he added.
The activist subsequently renewed his demand for the release of the surveillance footage, insisting that the recordings from the restaurant should be made public.
“Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force and the DSS have yet to release the CCTV footage seized from Tawakalitu Restaurant, where we were attacked.
“RELEASE THE CCTV FOOTAGE NOW!” he demanded.
The latest disclosure follows an attack on Sowore and members of his entourage at Tawakalitu Restaurant in Ado-Ekiti on Friday, shortly after the activist participated in a radio interview in the state.
Sowore had alleged that armed men attacked his team, assaulted some members and dispossessed them of their personal belongings, including mobile phones.
The incident generated controversy after the Ekiti State Police Command initially described it as an altercation involving Sowore and some individuals, while the activist maintained that his team was violently attacked.
The police subsequently announced the arrest of 11 suspects in connection with the incident.
According to the police, operatives of the Rapid Response Squad arrested the suspects at their hideouts in the Atikankan area of Ado-Ekiti at about 10 p.m. on October 30.
Items reportedly recovered during the operation included 13 mobile phones, two walkie-talkies, seven ATM cards, eight international passports, vehicle keys and other belongings.
The police said investigations were ongoing to establish the roles of the suspects and determine their possible involvement in the incident.
Sowore’s latest disclosure has renewed calls for the release of the restaurant’s CCTV footage, which he believes could provide further evidence about the circumstances surrounding the attack.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has tested the physical endurance, tactical awareness and military preparedness of 816 newly recruited personnel during an intensive six-day bush camp exercise in Kaduna.
The exercise, codenamed Exercise MUN FARA, was conducted from October 12 to 17, 2026, at the NAF Base Kaduna for trainees of Basic Military Training Course (BMTC) 46/2025.
The training featured demanding military activities, including day and night navigation, patrols, ambushes, attack drills and tent pitching, designed to prepare the recruits for operations under challenging field conditions.
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The exercise culminated in a gruelling 20-kilometre cross-country competition, with Alpha-Jet Squadron emerging overall winner after completing the race in two hours, 33 minutes and seven seconds.
Recruit Mohammed U of MI-35 Squadron finished first in the male category, while Recruit Salihu SO of ATR-42 Squadron emerged winner in the female category.
Commending the recruits for their resilience, discipline and team spirit, the MTC Commandant, Air Commodore AO Akins, said the exercise provided an opportunity to assess their practical application of essential military skills.
He noted that the training tested their knowledge and abilities in fieldcraft, weapon handling and map reading, alongside their capacity to work effectively as a team.
The Air Force said the exercise formed part of its progressive training programme aimed at developing disciplined, confident and mission-ready personnel.
The recruits are expected to proceed to their final bush camp training before completing their military training and commencing service in the Nigerian Air Force.
Presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has demanded the release of CCTV footage showing the attack on him and members of his team in Ado-Ekiti, while questioning the alleged relationship between the Ekiti State Government and a suspected gang leader.
Sowore made the demands in a post on X on Sunday, November 1, 2026, while responding to the Ekiti State Government’s October 31 press release on the October 30 attack.
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He also challenged Governor Biodun Oyebanji to explain an alleged warning issued by his Chief Security Officer, CSP Ayodele Akinlua, hours before the incident.
According to Sowore, Akinlua contacted a member of his team, Moyinoluwa Olowoyo, popularly known as Gigabytes, at approximately 7:30 a.m. on the day of the attack and warned that his safety could not be guaranteed if he proceeded with political activities in the state.
Sowore alleged that more than 100 armed thugs subsequently attacked him and members of his team in broad daylight, leaving several people injured and robbed.
Questioning the circumstances surrounding the warning, he asked:
“Why was the Governor’s Chief Security Officer warning that my safety could not be guaranteed hours before armed thugs descended on us? Who authorized that call? What did the Governor know, and when did he know it?”
The AAC presidential candidate accused the state government of failing to address the circumstances surrounding the attack, arguing that its response focused on questioning his motives rather than condemning the violence.
He also faulted the government’s description of the incident as an ordinary altercation, insisting that the attack involved armed political thugs.
Sowore further questioned the alleged relationship between the Ekiti State Government and Sola Adenijo, popularly known as Solar, whom he identified as the leader of the gang that attacked him and his team.
He alleged that Adenijo was on the state government’s payroll and challenged Governor Oyebanji to disclose whether the individual received payments, contracts, appointments, stipends or other financial benefits from the government, directly or indirectly.
“We challenge Governor Oyebanji and his government to publicly disclose whether Sola Adenijo receives payments, contracts, appointments, stipends, or any other financial benefits from the state government, directly or indirectly,” he stated.
Sowore maintained that a general denial of involvement by the government was insufficient without addressing the specific allegations.
He also demanded the immediate preservation, recovery and public release of CCTV recordings from the restaurant where the incident occurred and surrounding premises.
The activist urged the relevant authorities to secure the complete recordings, preserve the original files and release the footage without alteration, while protecting innocent bystanders.
“Let Nigerians see what happened. Let the footage establish whether this was the so-called ‘altercation’ being promoted by the Police and the State Government or a coordinated attack by armed political thugs,” he said.
Sowore further alleged that security operatives had attempted to remove CCTV recordings and demanded an explanation regarding who took possession of the footage, where it was being kept and why it had not been made public.
He also questioned the activities of security agencies before the attack, alleging that Department of State Services (DSS) operatives had disrupted his political meeting at a restaurant.
According to him, members of his team and security personnel attached to them were assaulted, with some security personnel allegedly disarmed during the incident.
Sowore also referenced a statement by MKD Araoye, lead organiser of the Ikogosi Marathon, announcing a ban on his participation in the event. He alleged that the development further raised questions about possible official involvement in the incident.
The AAC presidential candidate called for an independent and transparent investigation into the roles of the attackers, their alleged sponsors, the governor’s security personnel, the DSS and any police or DSS officers implicated in the incident.
He maintained that the investigation should examine eyewitness accounts, communication records, financial records and CCTV footage.
“The Ekiti State Government cannot investigate itself through press releases, insult the victims into silence, or manufacture an alternative account of an attack that left people injured,” he said.
Sowore insisted that the incident would not deter him from exercising his constitutional rights or participating in political activities.
He also challenged Governor Oyebanji to release the CCTV footage, explain the alleged warning from his Chief Security Officer and disclose the government’s relationship, if any, with Adenijo.
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