Ohanaeze Ndigbo has asked President Bola Tinubu to halt any proposed salary increase for political office holders, warning that such a move could trigger widespread unrest.
In a statement on Monday, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, deputy president-general of the group, and Thompson Ohia, its national spokesman, said approving pay hikes for politicians at a time of rising hardship would be “a recipe for anarchy and chaos”.
The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation said the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) lacks the powers to unilaterally increase salaries of elected officials.
It cited a 2021 judgment by Chuka Austine Obiozor, a federal high court judge, which ordered RMAFC to review and reduce the salaries of lawmakers in line with prevailing economic conditions.
Part of the statement read: “The RMAFC has ignited a raging fire that, if not extinguished by the presidency, threatens to spiral into uncontrollable rebellion.
“The citizens of Nigeria are both hungry and angry; the federal government’s proposed pay rise for politicians, amidst a soaring cost of living, not only constitutes an affront but also serves as a breeding ground for chaos and anarchy.”
Ohanaeze said the government must show solidarity with Nigerians by slashing the “exorbitant” pay of politicians rather than approving increases.
It warned that going ahead with the proposal could trigger unrest similar to the riots in Kenya and the upheavals in Venezuela.