By Obike Ukoh
Since the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) announced plans to increase the salaries of political office holders, Nigerians have greeted the proposal with outright rejection.
They argued that political office holders are stupendously remunerated and by no means deserve a further pay rise.
RMAFC had justified the pay rise because the President receives only N1.5 million monthly, while ministers receive less than N1 million monthly.
Those who criticized the proposal noted that RMAFC is taking Nigerians for a ride, adding, Is it with this amount that the political office holders survive on, send their children abroad for studies and the luxurious lifestyles they exhibit daily?’’
They said that indeed the Commission feigned ignorance of the other perks enjoyed by the President and other political office holders.
Analysts also argued that even when inflation makes a pay raise necessary, noted that the timing is wrong, especially at a time when countless Nigerians are passing through untold economic hardship and deprivations occasioned by the reform policies of the present administration.
They noted that political office holders receive the amount listed by RMAFC, but have hidden perks, including security allowances, entertainment, travel and leave bonuses, house rent, among others, from where they make their millions every month and nobody hears these.
A commentator, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, opined that, “If the RMAFC will be sincere enough to disclose the hidden perks our political office-holders are enjoying, there will be protests.
“My schoolmates, kinsmen and even colleagues who joined politics are far ahead of me in terms of investments.
“One even employed two Indians in the company he founded while in office. So, RMAFC said these guys receive meagre salaries, how come they are billionaires overnight, and queried the rationale for the pay rise.’’
The African Democratic Congress (ADC), through its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, described the move as “a troubling display of disconnect between government and citizens.”
He noted that political leaders already live in luxury compared to ordinary Nigerians.
“How else are political office holders able to support their lifestyle of opulence if indeed these so-called ‘outdated’ salaries mean anything to them?” Abdullahi queried.
He argued that the review was nothing but selfishness masked as reform. “Proposing such a review when millions are struggling with soaring food inflation, high fuel costs, and an inadequate minimum wage indicates a total disregard for the people.
“This is not leadership; it is self-preservation at the expense of citizens,” he declared.
NNPP’s South-West leader, Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, said the idea showed utter disregard for the people’s plight. “It is insensitive to increase political office holders’ salaries when workers are battling for a living wage. “True leaders tighten their belts before asking citizens to make sacrifices,” he stressed.
Ajadi slammed the proposal as reckless, citing global precedents. “This is reeks of tone-deafness and greed. In other countries facing crises, leaders cut their own pay to show solidarity with citizens. “Nigeria’s leaders must emulate that, not fatten themselves while the people suffer,” he said.
Similarly, PDP Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, condemned the proposal as “highly insensitive” and a betrayal of public trust.
“It is highly insensitive for such an issue to be raised in the midst of hunger, inflation, and the collapse of our naira,” he said. “At this time of economic crisis, leaders should be talking about reducing overheads and promoting accountability, not increasing their own pay.”
Osadolor further warned that ignoring these realities could fuel mass anger. “Government must focus on easing the burden on ordinary Nigerians. Any attempt to enrich the political elite, while citizens struggle, will only deepen public frustration,” he added.
On his part, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, described the move as “a shameless grab for more at the expense of Nigeria’s struggling majority.”
According to him, the proposal reflects the widening gulf between the leaders and the people they govern.
The Labour Party also took a swipe at RMAFC over its proposal to increase the salaries of political leaders, warning that such a move would amount to mocking Nigerians already weighed down by economic hardship.
In a statement signed by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Tony Akeni, the LP described the move as “an insult to the intelligence of Nigerians,” insisting that the quoted figures for the President and ministers’ pay are misleading.
Founder of Follow the Money, Hamzat Lawal, has urged political office holders agitating for higher salaries to resign from public service and seek employment in the private sector, stressing that the country cannot afford a pay rise at this time.
He faulted the move, describing it as misplaced and an attempt to please the President.
Lawal further said that the review was insensitive and politically risky for the President.
He said, “I think this is even a setup for the President. Why would you want to make a decision that would make the leadership of the country so unpopular?
“Tinubu said that we must tighten our belts; this is the time for sacrifice. So, why do political officeholders not want to sacrifice? Why is it that it is the citizens who should carry this burden alone?”
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), also kicked against the pay rise for political office holders, describing it as insensitive, unjust and inequitable, adding that it will deepen the inequality between civil servants and politicians NLC, through its President Joe Ajaero, demanded that the current earnings of political office holders, as well as the benchmark for the proposed review be made public.
“RMAFC should put this exercise on hold, before it triggers a tsunami,’’ Ajaero warned, reiterating that it will deepen poverty among the majority of Nigerians, already adjudged to be multi-dimensionally poor, and also live miserably poor.’’
The labour leader frowned at a situation where public office is now seen as a sanctuary for wealth creation.
However, as RMAFC proposed an unsolicited salary increase for political office holders, members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) were on the street, protesting the unfulfilled promise of about 15 years.
The university teachers, during the protests staged across the federation, said that the government did not respond to their protestations on the issue of welfare and salary increase.
Analysts were in agreement that political office-holders are pampered. “ Have you ever seen any Nigerian Government on its own increase workers’ salaries? They say that the salary is usually increased by the government after protracted industrial actions.
They agreed that increasing the salaries of political office holders now is not only insensitive but also inequitable.
They say that RMAFC is economical with the truth, as they queried the source of money thrown about by politicians.
Equity demands the stoppage of the proposed pay rise for political office holders, as they are already over-fed from the public treasury.
Regrettably, the pay rise was contemplated at a time when university teachers were lamenting poor pay, with a professor receiving about N525,000 per month.
