Media aide to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Adele Alake has denied reports of approval made for salary review for political office holders and judicial officers.
Alake, who is the Special Adviser on Special Duties, Communications and Strategy to the president, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.
Reports in some media outfits on Wednesday stated that the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has approved a 114 per cent increase in the salaries of elected politicians, including the President, vice president and governors.
It was also reported that lawmakers as well as judicial and public office holders were to benefit from the increment.
However, Alake stated that the report was contrived to create ill-will for the new administration.
“We have followed with consternation the viral story of the purported 114% 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 to propose and fix salaries and allowances of political office holders and Judicial Officers, such can not 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.
“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.
Alake called on media practitioners to always cross-check their stories to ensure accurate reportage, which is the hallmark of responsible journalism.
