The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has urged the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to suspend its plan to raise salaries for political office holders, describing the proposal as “insensitive, unjust, and inequitable.”
In a statement on Sunday, NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, warned that the planned increment would further widen the gap between civil servants and politicians, while worsening poverty among ordinary Nigerians.
“We are outraged by RMAFC’s decision to carry out a comprehensive upward review of the pay packages of political office holders nationwide. The move is insensitive, unjust, inequitable and will only worsen the already deep inequality between public servants and politicians. It will also drive more Nigerians, already deemed multi-dimensionally poor into deeper poverty,” Ajaero said.
He also dismissed RMAFC Chairman Mohammed Usman’s justification for the hike as “puerile,” stressing that political office holders already enjoy extensive allowances and privileges.
Context
The NLC pointed out that while civil servants remain on frozen salaries and a minimum wage of ₦70,000, political office holders have repeatedly secured disproportionate increases of over 800% compared to about 50% for workers. It also criticised the uniformity of political salaries nationwide, noting that civil service pay reflects regional economic realities.
Ajaero demanded transparency in the process, calling for all current political earnings and benchmarks for the proposed review to be made public. He warned: “RMAFC should put this exercise on hold immediately before it triggers a tsunami.”
The union further urged the federal government to ensure that remuneration policies are fair, transparent, and guided by constitutional principles, emphasising that public office must be about service and sacrifice, not personal enrichment.
Background
RMAFC recently began reviewing pay packages for political and public office holders across Nigeria. The Chairman of its Remuneration and Monetisation Committee, Hon. Mohammed Kabeer Usman, defended the move as necessary for stability and good governance.
The review comes after last year’s upward adjustment of judicial officers’ salaries, approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), explained at the time that the Judicial Office Holders’ Salaries and Allowances Bill, 2024—now law—would strengthen the justice system.
However, the NLC insists that the latest salary review is untimely and unfair, and has called on RMAFC to abandon the plan.
