The
volume three part of this report will today be presented to the
federal legislature for it to implement immediately. Similarly
within next week, all states and LG legislatures will also be
presented with the report for implementation with effect from 1st
July 2009. However, the report in respect of states and local
council executives will be submitted to state assemblies with
specimen draft bills for consideration and subsequent amendment to
their various remuneration laws.
"For the immediate effect on
the economy and to facilitate the review of the budget deficit of
the government, the implementation of the review packages will have
to be uniformly applied through out the country with effect from
July 1, for all beneficiaries
"This review package
automatically supersedes all the previous reports of the commission.
Mr. President, permit me to emphasize that apart from the salaries,
allowances and fringe benefits contained in these packages no other
salaries, allowances and fringe benefits are payable to any
political, public or judicial office holders.
"Permit me to draw the
attention of all that this downward review is to ensure that all the
tiers of government are able to pay the package in view of their
dwindling resources"
In his remark, President
Yar’Adua said: "The ultimate objective is that no one should lose
their job because of the current economic downturn. Adjustment
should be made where necessary; sacrifices should be made where
necessary so that people should save their jobs. Unemployment is the
greatest problem we have in this country and no matter what problem
we have faced, confront; we should be able to take measures to
ensure that we do not aggravate this problem."
While commending the
commission for a job well done the president also called on the
private sector to emulate the public officers by making sacrifices.
"You have done a good job by
making sure that no arm of government or its agency is distress
because they will not be in the position to meet their obligations
in terms of remuneration to their public, political and judicial
office holders.
"I have no doubt in my mind
from the brief you gave and the address that you have done an
excellent job and this will bring in line the salaries and
allowances and remuneration of all these officers within the range
of remuneration in the civil service and the private sector and I
hope that all other institutions including private sector
institutions take a cue from this exercise.
"This is what the Revenue
Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission has done. I want to
once again than Mr. Chairman and the members for responding timely
to this appeal that I made to you. I also want to thank all
stakeholders for recognising the need to make these sacrifices.
"Let me extend my sincere
appreciation and gratitude for the exercise that has been well
undertaken in the best interest of this country. Indeed it became
necessary to put in a modest request to the commission which has the
constitutional power regarding the remuneration of political, public
and judicial office holders, to appeal to the commission to examine
the current economic downturn which had begun sometime in the middle
of last year and the dwindling resources accruing to the three arms
of government, the fall in crude oil production, fall in the influx
of foreign direct investments and fall in influx in remittances
which totally gave rise to the dwindling revenues to the federal,
states and local government.
"It became necessary at the
time to request and appeal to the commission to examine the
situation, review the 2008 Act which had been passed by the national
assembly and also review the remunerations of all legislatures
throughout the country, so that they come out with a package that is
a response to the situation the nation has found itself. This is the
first time this exercise has been undertaken and I think it has
demonstrated a great sense of responsibility on the part of the
commission. It needs courage to carry out an exercise like this.
"We have to contact and
consuls with all stakeholders and I appreciate the fact that almost
all stakeholders saw the need for the nation to make adjustment when
the need arises in terms of the earning for public, political and
judicial office holders, this clearly show that both holders who are
holding various offices and can respond and make sacrifices for the
sake of this nation when asked to do so.
I think this is no mean
achievement. With this I want to congratulate all members of the
executive arm of government at all levels, members of the national
assembly and all state houses of assembly and all local government
councillors for this sense of responsibility and demonstration of
patriotism and nationalism."
