Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has faulted the Federal Government’s plan to raise the salaries of political office holders, describing the move as insensitive and unjustifiable given the country’s current economic hardship.
The Federal Government, through the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), recently proposed a salary increase for President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, ministers, senators, and other political leaders.
RMAFC Chairman Mohammed Shehu, who announced the plan at a press briefing in Abuja, argued that the existing salary structure, unchanged since 2008, was outdated and unrealistic.
According to Shehu, the President currently earns N1.5 million monthly, while ministers receive less than N1 million. He maintained that such figures are inadequate when compared with the higher earnings of some agency heads and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
But in a statement released on Wednesday night, Obi strongly opposed the proposal, warning that it prioritises “leaders’ greed over basic welfare.”
“The recent proposal by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to increase the salaries of Political Leaders is causing widespread anger and bitterness among Nigerians, and we share the concerns of many Nigerians who question the necessity and timing of this proposal,” Obi said.
He added: “Such thinking in the face of faster-eroding living standards of the people not only portrays the insensitivity of leaders but also exposes their greed.”
Obi described the proposed hike as a “shameless grab” by politicians at the expense of struggling Nigerians, insisting that political office should be seen as a service to the nation and not an avenue for wealth accumulation.
He further urged the government to channel its efforts towards improving the living conditions of security personnel and public workers, particularly police officers, who he said remain grossly underpaid and overworked.
“We call on the RMAFC to prioritise the welfare of Nigerians, particularly those in the public service, who have been neglected for far too long,” Obi said.