The recent proposal of politicians’ salary hike by the Nigerian Federal Government has begun to generate a barrage of reactions.
Several citizens and political groups have condemned the move as insensitive, with many describing it as insensitive due to the ongoing economic challenges.
Pan-Atlantic Kompass reports that the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) recently announced plans to increase salaries for political officeholders, including the President, Vice President, ministers, and senators, citing outdated earnings last reviewed in 2008.
RMAFC Chairman, Mohammed Shehu, who spoke on Monday, said that President Bola Tinubu currently earns N1.5 million monthly, ministers earn less than N1million, which, he said, had remained unchanged since 2008.
He stated: “You are paying the President N1.5million a month. Everybody believes that it is a joke. You cannot pay a minister less than N1million per month since 2008 and expect him to put in his best without necessarily being involved in some other things.
“You pay either a CBN governor or the D-G 10 times more than you pay the President. That is just not right. Or you pay him (the head of an agency) 20 times higher than the Attorney-General of the Federation. That is absolutely not right.”
However, the politicians’ salary hike has drawn criticism from various quarters, including political parties like the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), and the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
PDP described the proposed politicians’ salary hike as “insensitive and unconscionable” in the face of deepening economic hardship.
PDP Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, said the development shows the disconnect between the political elite and the daily struggles of Nigerians.
He said: “It is highly insensitive for such an issue to be discussed amid hunger, inflation, and the collapse of our naira.
“Benin Republic now has a stronger currency than ours. If this is not enough reason for Tinubu’s economic team to resign in shame, I don’t know what else should move them.
“How can a man with a family survive on N70,000? Meanwhile, politicians pocket hundreds of millions in perks and overheads, yet shamelessly talk about salary increments.”
Similarly, the ADC urged the Federal Government to suspend the proposed salary increase.
In a statement, ADC National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said the plan is ill-timed and insensitive, given the realities ordinary Nigerians face.
“How else are political office holders able to support their lifestyle of luxury and opulence if indeed these ‘outdated’ salaries mean anything to them?” Abdullahi queried.
“The Federal Government has no moral right to demand sacrifice from Nigerians. As a party, we strongly believe that rather than enriching political elites, all government policies at this time should prioritise raising the minimum wage to a livable standard and reaching the most vulnerable Nigerians.”
Likewise, the NNPP described the proposal as insensitive to the current struggles faced by Nigerians amid ongoing economic challenges.
The South-West leader of NNPP, Olufemi Oguntoyinbo, in a statement, said many Nigerians are already enduring hardship due to the harsh economic conditions.
Ajadi said: “It is insensitive to increase political office-holders’ salaries while workers have been struggling for a living wage without an appropriate response from the governments.
“The proposed increase in salaries for the President, Vice-President, and other political office-holders during this period of economic hardship will be perceived as insensitivity to the plights of ordinary Nigerians.
“The current minimum wage is insufficient to provide a decent livelihood for any worker. Inflation is biting harder on Nigerians.
“In stark contrast to the poor conditions faced by citizens, political office-holders flaunt their wealth with utter disregard for the, struggles of ordinary people. Increasing the salaries of these political office-holders will not bode well for our country.
“In nations where the economy is faltering, political office-holders typically reduce their earnings as a form of sacrifice. Only then do they earn the moral authority to urge citizens to make sacrifices.
“For instance, in New Zealand, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and her cabinet took a 20% pay cut during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“During the 2008 financial crisis, Ireland slashed ministerial and parliamentary salaries by as much as 30%. Amid Greece’s sovereign debt crisis, ministers and members of parliament accepted salary cuts in solidarity with the citizens.
“True leaders tighten their belts first before asking citizens to bear the burden of reform. It is unconscionable for Nigeria’s political class to even contemplate ‘jumbo salaries’ at a time of rising inflation, subsidy removal, unemployment, and worsening poverty.”
