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By Madu Obi
A public analyst, Mr Ifeanyi Afuba, has accused the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC, of being a major contributor to Nigeria's governance crisis through its faulty execution of policies.
In an interview in Awka, Afuba lamented that RMAFC administrations from1999 to date, have been harbouring what he called "the palace mentality" to issues of political office holders' remuneration.
He said: "Under the Third Schedule, Part 1of the amended 1999 Constitution, the RMAFC is charged among other duties, with the power to review salaries of categories of public servants, as well as revenue allocation formula.
But the fiscal authority has been selective and self - serving in the approach to its constitutional mandate.
"RMAFC authorities have consistently ignored public outcry over unacceptable high earnings of elected officials and political appointees, while glossing over the plight of states in the revenue allocation system.
"The Constitution mandates the Commission to determine remuneration appropriate for political office holders. Why have we seen only upward review of salaries by the Commission?
Why hasn't any of the RMAFC regimes recommended reduction in the earnings of political office holders?"
"Recently, a kite was flown on pay rise for this same set of public servants by the Commission. This is coming in the face of protests by Nigerians over stupendous salaries and allowances enjoyed by the political class in government."
"The national minimum wage of thirty thousand naira cannot buy a bag of rice. So it's scandalous for the Commission to be considering upward review of emoluments for political office holders."
"The policy of jumbo pay for elective and appointive positions being implemented by RMAFC is at odds with the essence of public service. This practice is a declaration that the ruling elite are lords, rather than servants of the people."
"There is a sense of entitlement propelling the financial awards. And, don't forget that members of RMAFC, by extension, benefit from this special remuneration for political office holders."
According to him, there is negative ripple effects of such luxurious conditions of service, adding that the first fallout is obvious fierce battles to win elections.
He said that another impact of the jumbo pay for political office holders is the influence it has on associations like ASUU and NMA, who are usually adamant on their demands on government, when they consider what the politicians are receiving as emoluments.
Afuba called on the leadership of RMAFC to emulate the bold step of the Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, who on assumption of office, cut the salaries of political appointees by 25 percent.
He added: "Every progressive Nigerian gives kudos to Soludo for that singular act because it sends a clear message that public office is an invitation to work, not to come and eat.
"Global best practices recognizes states as the centres of development requiring greater funding, but here we are, saddled with a unitary revenue system that allocates 52 percent of national income to the federal government at the expense of 36 states and 774 local governments."
"For the 23 years of the Fourth Republic, the RMAFC has failed to redress this skewed sharing law imposed by the military."
"What is worse is that even with their small share of national revenue, states are compelled by the demands of service delivery to bear federal responsibilities. Thus, states maintain federal roads; fund operations of the military, police, etc and routinely support federal agencies in their states, whose heads never get tired of pestering governors to provide them with logistics."
Well analyzed