Review salaries of public office holders, Okorocha tells RMFC

Okorocha in hand shake with RMFC Chairman during the latter's visit to Govt House, Owerri on Wed.

Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has called on the chairman and members of the Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Commission (RMFC) to do a downward review of the salaries and allowances of the President, Governors, National Assembly members, and all other political office holders at least by fifty percent to make the offices less attractive.

Governor Okorocha made this call on Wednesday when he hosted the chairman of RMFC Engr. Elias Mbam and other members of the commission to a breakfast meeting at the Government House, Owerri at the end of their annual retreat in the State.

Speaking at the meeting, Governor Okorocha said that with the downward review of salaries and allowances of political office holders, such positions or offices would become less attractive which would also reduce the tension that always go with the contest for such offices.

He explained that the drastic reduction of the take-home pay of political office holders would reduce poverty among the populace and also reduce crimes that are mostly borne out of the envy occasioned by these bloated salaries and allowances of political office holders.

According to him, only those keen in rendering genuine service to the people would go for such public offices if the salaries paid are less attractive.

In his words, “when the salaries and allowances of public office holders whether elected or appointed are reviewed downward at least by fifty percent or even more than that, it would make the offices less attractive and with that, only those who want these offices for service would go for them.”

He continued “If one knows that at the end of the month your total pay as governor or National Assembly member would be less than five hundred thousand Naira, most people would stay away.  And only those with ideas and the genuine spirit of service would aspire for such offices. The huge amount spent on recurrent expenses should be directed to infrastructure, while the paraphernalia of offices should be drastically reduced. People who are ready to sacrifice for their people should be encouraged for leadership positions while those coming for the gains of the offices should be discouraged.”

  

Chairman of the commission, Engr. Mbam said they had chosen Imo State for their retreat because of the good stories being associated with the state in terms of security, infrastructure, tourism, hospitality and so on, adding that they were satisfied with what they have seen so far in the state in terms of her development and growth.

Engr. Mbam commended Governor Okorocha mostly for the free education programme of his government and his own personal free education initiatives through the Rochas Foundation, assuring him that they will work on their findings during their retreat in Owerri.