The Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) PRO has said that it cannot stop President Muhammadu Buhari or any other political office holder from cutting down on their salaries and allowances.
The commission’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ibrahim Mohammed, said this in a telephone interview on Monday.
Mr. Buhari had recently announced a reduction in his emoluments from about N14m to N7m per annum. Similarly, Vice- President Yemi Osinbajo slashed his own emoluments from about N12m to N6m.
The cuts represent 50 per cent in the emoluments of the two key political office holders.
But the move had generated mixed reactions with some legal experts saying no political officer holder had the power to cut their emoluments since it is the constitutional responsibility of RMAFC to fix the salaries and allowances of political and public office holders.
Mohammed, however, said RMAFC cannot stop Buhari or other political office holders from voluntarily giving up part of their emoluments even though the agency was aware of its constitutional responsibility.
He said, “The constitution is clear on who determines the salaries and wages of public office holders. However, we cannot stop any political office holder who wants to do charity from giving up part of their entitlements.
“It is a voluntary thing. Before the President took the step, the governor of Kaduna State and another governor had also announced 50 per cent reduction in their salaries and allowances.
“Since we have started the process for the review of the salaries and allowances of political office holders in the country, we take these actions as their inputs towards the review exercise”.
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