Muhammad Shehu, Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), emphasized the importance of Nigerians paying their taxes to increase government revenue and enhance service delivery.
He noted that fewer than 40 million Nigerians are currently part of the tax net, which is insufficient for a nation with a population of over 200 million.
Shehu also debunked claims of extravagant emoluments for political office holders in Nigeria and mentioned the commission’s efforts to develop software to enhance transparency in revenue generation and sharing among government tiers.
RMAFC chairman praises Tinubu’s tax reform
He commended President Bola Tinubu’s Tax Reform Committee, believing it would help include players from the informal sector in the tax net.
Regarding recent reports of a proposed 114% salary increase for political office holders, Shehu clarified that such information is untrue.
He stated that the RMAFC’s constitutional responsibility is to determine and review the salaries of executive, legislative, and judicial officers, with the last review occurring in 2007.
He emphasized that amid economic challenges, any salary increase would only be considered when the timing is appropriate and after consultation with stakeholders.
Shehu also addressed perceived high earnings by lawmakers, explaining that these figures include statutory office running costs managed by the National Assembly Service Commission.