By BASHIR ADEFAKA
“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.”
The Nigeria’s Presidency has debunked the media reports of purported 114 percent salary increment for president, vice president as well as governors and deputy governors among others in the country, saying it is fake news.
This was dropped by the Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communications and Strategy, Mr. Dele Alake, in a statement dated June 22, 2023 and copy of which was sent to The DEFENDER on Thursday.
Alake said the seat of power had followed with consternation the viral story of the purported 114 percent increase in the salary of the President, Vice President, elected federal and state political office holders and judicial officers.
“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 recognise that it is within the constitutional remit of Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (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.
“It is important to note that RMAFC, through its Public Relations Manager, has responded to this fake story being circulated and has already set the record straight.”
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, Alake said.
He added that, “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 as a result of its fast paced, dynamic and progressive policies.
“It is important to reiterate to journalists, media managers, and members of the public that stories on government activities and policy issues that do not emanate from approved official communication channels should be ignored.”
The Presidency’s Spokesman concluded with an advise to media practitioners to, at all times, cross-check their stories “to ensure accurate reportage, which is the hallmark of responsible journalism.”
