NLC rejects RMAFC pay review for political office holders

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has strongly rejected plans by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to raise the salaries of political office holders, describing the move as “insensitive, inequitable and unjust” at a time when workers face wage freezes and worsening poverty.

In a statement on Sunday, NLC President, Joe Ajaero, said the proposal would deepen inequality between public officials and ordinary workers.

He warned that rewarding politicians with higher pay while millions of Nigerians live in multi-dimensional poverty would only fuel anger and undermine public trust.

“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 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.

“We recall the last time a wage review (not minimum wage) was done for civil servants, it was not more than 50 per cent. However, when that of political office holders was done a year or so later, it was in excess of 800 per cent.

“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 the same salary as a Councillor in Rivers State.

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“While we recognise the need for good remuneration packages, they should be across the board and equitable and not done on the basis of discrimination, as that runs contrary to the letter and spirit of our constitution.

“One of the most heinous crimes against humanity is the institution and promotion of apartheid in any human setting, no matter how subtle.

“Accordingly, we demand as follows: the current earnings of all political office holders should be made public;

“The benchmark for the proposed review should equally be made public;
RMAFC should hold this exercise before it triggers a tsunami.”

Recall that, RMAFC chairman, Mohammed Shehu, at a press briefing in Abuja, defended the commission’s push for higher salaries for political office holders, arguing that the current pay structure undermines accountability and fuels corruption.

Shehu revealed that President Bola Tinubu earns N1.5 million monthly, while ministers take home less than N1 million, salaries that have not been reviewed since 2008, describing the figures as “a joke” compared to the scale of responsibilities carried by public officials.

He questioned why agency heads and Central Bank executives earn as much as 10 to 20 times more than the President or Attorney-General of the Federation, insisting such disparities were unjustifiable.

“It’s about time we supported a fair and reasonable salary structure that reflects the weight of these offices,” Shehu maintained.

Punch.