Cablegate: Pay Hike for Yar'adua, Top Government Officials

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PP RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHUJA #1238 1641547
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 131547Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9869
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEHWR/AMEMBASSY WARSAW 0368
RUEHCD/AMCONSUL CIUDAD JUAREZ 0369
RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS 7129
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK

UNCLAS ABUJA 001238

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DOE FOR CAROLYN GAY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM NI
SUBJECT: PAY HIKE FOR YAR'ADUA, TOP GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS

1. The Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission
(RMAFC), which monitors withdrawals from the Federation
Account, recommends revenue sharing agreements across the
three tiers of government, and recommends salaries and other
allowances for public officials announced a new Consolidated
Top Federal Public Office Holders Salary Structure at a June
11 press conference. The proposal, which awaits approval by
the National Assembly when it reconvenes June 26, recommends
a 150% increase in base salary and enhanced allowances for
the President, Vice President, Ministers, Chief Justice,
State Governors, and other top positions across federal,
state, and local government. Base annual salary highlights
of the new package include: President, 3.5 million Naira
(27,000 USD); Vice President, 3 million Naira (23,000 USD);
Chief Justice, 3.3 million (26,000 USD); Ministers, 2 million
Naira (15,000 USD); Senate President and House Speaker, 2.5
million Naira (20,000 USD); State Governors, 2.2 million
Naira (17,000 USD); and Local Government Chairman, 1 million
Naira (7,500 USD).

2. The Nigerian Constitution mandates that the RMAFC review
and amend every five years the Consolidated Top Federal
Public Office Holders Salary Structure to reflect the impact
of inflation rates, external reserves, Gross Domestic Product
growth, and other economic indices. The pay package given to
public servants across the executive, legislative, and
judicial branches of the three tiers of government includes
base annual salaries and allowances for medical care,
security details, domestic and international travel,
accommodation, and severance gratuity. The RMAFC did not
divulge the total amount of allowances, which far exceeds the
yearly salaries these public officials enjoy.

3. (SBU) COMMENT: Contacts and open source reporting
indicate that President Yar'Adua may trim his Cabinet to save
costs. During the Obasanjo administration, the Nigerian
Government reportedly spent 40 million USD annually to
maintain over 90 Permanent Secretary and Special Adviser
positions. The National Assembly will likely approve the
RMAFC salary structure recommendations as it remains in their
self interest to do so. In comparison, the Mission
locally-engaged staff pay scale for basic pay ranges from
631,000 Naira for an FSN One - Step One to 5.24 million Naira
for an FSN Ten - Step Fifteen. With allowances, total
compensation for a One-Step One is 1.3 million Naira (8,300
USD) and for a Ten-Step Fifteen is 8.3 million Naira (65,000
USD). END COMMENT.
CAMPBELL

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