In a statement released on Thursday, President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Special Duties, Communication, and Strategy, Dele Alake, categorically denied the approval of a purported 114% increase in the salaries of the President, Vice President, elected federal and state political office holders, and judicial officers.
The statement refuted the report as fake, emphasizing that such a proposal had not been presented to Tinubu for consideration.
Alake stated, “We state without any equivocation that President Bola Tinubu has not approved any salary increase, and no such proposal has been brought before him for consideration. While we recognize that it is within the constitutional remit of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation, and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to propose and fix salaries and allowances of political office holders and judicial officers, such a proposal cannot come into effect until it has been considered and approved by the President.”
He also highlighted the response of the RMAFC through its Public Relations Manager, which had already set the record straight regarding the fake story being circulated.
Addressing the proliferation of fake news, Alake stressed the dangers it poses to society and national well-being. “The misinformation was, obviously, contrived 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,” he said. He further urged journalists, media managers, and the public to disregard stories on government activities and policy issues that do not originate from approved official communication channels.
