NLC to RMAFC: Halt Politicians’ Pay Increase Or Risk National Uproar

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has condemned plans by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to review upwards the remuneration of political office holders across the country.

The labour movement described the move as insensitive, unjust, and inequitable, warning that it would worsen poverty levels among Nigerians while deepening the gap between civil servants and politicians.

NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, in a statement issued on Sunday, further cautioned that the move, if not suspended, could trigger widespread anger and resistance from workers and citizens already weighed down by economic hardship, wage stagnation, and rising living costs.

“We are outraged by the decision of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to embark on a comprehensive upward review of the remuneration packages of political office holders across the country.

“The move is insensitive, unjust, inequitable and will only succeed in deepening the growing inequality between civil servants and political office holders.

“It will equally deepen poverty among the generality of Nigerians majority of whom have not only been adjudged to be multi-dimensionally poor, live miserably poor.”

He warned that “making public-office a sanctuary for wealth-making (for literally doing nothing) instead of service and sacrifice will raise the stakes and desperation for the quest for public office with its intended and unintended consequences including self-extinction.”

Ajaero dismissed the justification offered by RMAFC Chairman, Mohammed Usman, describing his explanations as “largely puerile” and insulting to Nigerians who continue to suffer under harsh economic realities.

“We have listened with a growing apprehension to the justification for this ill-advised adventure by the Chairman of RMAFC, Mr Mohammed Usman, but we find it appropriate to warn that making public-office a sanctuary for wealth-making (for literally doing nothing) instead of service and sacrifice will raise the stakes/desperation for the quest for public office with its intended and unintended consequences including self-extinction.

“Mohammed Usman’s explanations, largely puerile, insult our collective intelligence as they say nothing of the humongous advantages tied to these offices elegantly couched as perquisites, ways and means while the poor live only on hopes and dreams (Bob Marley).

“This is to aside from other unwritten and unmentionable advantages that set them apart from the other disadvantaged citizenry.

“This exercise is coming at a time of promotion and salary freeze in most public subsectors and the continued imposition/operation of N70,000 minimum wage because there are no resources to pay higher in spite of insane tariff hikes.” he stated.

The NLC recalled that the last wage review for civil servants was not more than 50 percent, while that of political office holders, done barely a year later, was in excess of 800 percent.

Ajaero also expressed dismay that civil servants’ salaries remain subject to resource availability while political office holders enjoy uniform pay structures across all states.

“Whereas with civil servants, wage reviews or promotions are dependent on resource availability, with political office holders, this rule does not operate.

“We equally note with dismay that whereas states operate different pay structures for civil servants, the pay structures of political office holders are the same across the country. This explains why a Councillor in Yobe State earns same salary as a Councillor in Rivers State.”

Accordingly, the Congress demanded that the current earnings of all political office holders be made public, that the benchmark for the proposed review be disclosed, and that RMAFC immediately put the exercise on hold “before it triggers a tsunami.”