The Presidency has stated without any equivocation that President Bola Tinubu has not approved any salary increase, and no such proposal has been brought before him for consideration.
According to statement released by the Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communications & Strategy, Dele Alake on Thursday, voiced out over the purported 114% increase in salary of the President, Vice President, elected Federal and State political office holders and judicial officers.
Reports by some media on Wednesday went viral that the President approved a 114% increase in the salaries of elected politicians, including president, vice president, govs, lawmakers, as well as judicial and public office holders by the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).
However, Alake said, this unfounded story gained prominence on social media and in section of mainstream media, again, brings to the fore the danger fake news poses to the society and the national well-being.
He pointed out that such misinformation was, obviously, contrived to create ill-will for the new administration, slow down 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.
Alake recognised that it is within the constitutional remit of Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission to propose and fix salaries and allowances of political office holders and Judicial Officers, such can not come to effect until it has equally been considered and approved by the President.
While noted that RMAFC, through its Public Relations Manager, has responded to this fake story being circulated and has already set the record straight.
The SA to the President urged journalists, media managers, and members of the public to ignore stories on government activities, policy issues that don’t emanate from approved official communication channels.
Stated further that media practitioners are enjoined to, at all times, cross-check their stories to ensure accurate reportage, which is the hallmark of responsible journalism.