Presidency Rejects Reports Of Salary Increase Of Political Office Holders

President Bola Tinubu has not increased the salaries of public office holders following fuel subsidy removal, clarified the Special Adviser to the President on special duties, communication, and strategy, Dele Alake.

The special adviser issued a statement on Thursday, titled "No presidential approval for salary increase for political office holders and judicial officers."

Alake said that the government recognizes "that it is within the constitutional remit of the 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," Punch reported.

He went on to explain that President Tinubu has not approved any salary increase. In fact, he added that no such proposal has been presented before him for consideration.

"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 special adviser noted.

Alake further noted that this "misinformation" was shared 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."

He concluded the statement by advising citizens of Nigeria to not believe any such news until it has been shared by official government platforms.

This statement came after fake news was doing rounds on the internet that the President has approved a 114% increase in the salary of the President, Vice President, alongside other political office holders.

Last week, The National Economic Council (NEC) disclosed that the new government is considering the National Salaries Income and Wages Commission's recommendation to pay N702 billion to civil servants as a cost-of-living allowance, following fuel subsidy removal.

The fuel subsidy removal announcement was made by the new president of Nigeria, Tinubu on May 29, which marked inauguration day.

The decision to remove subsidy has been painful for the citizens, which Tinubu acknowledged. However, the president noted that this will help the country in the long run with a regular power supply, better healthcare, transport infrastructure, and education.

After the subsidy removal announcement, Nigerian gas stations witnessed long queues of vehicles and the fuel prices skyrocketed from N195 per liter to N600 per liter. On top of it, the government confirmed earlier this week that citizens need to pay 7.5 percent VAT (Value Added Tax) on diesel.

Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) noted that following subsidy removal and VAT implementation, using natural gas is going to be 400 percent cheaper compared to petrol.