There is disquiet following the proposed salary increase for President Bola Tinubu, governors, ministers and other government officials in the country.
DAILY POST reports that the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC, penultimate Monday revealed moves to review upwards the remuneration of government officials.
The RMAFC Chairman, Mohammed Shehu, who spoke with journalists in Abuja, described current earnings of Nigerian President, Governors, Ministers as inadequate, unrealistic, and outdated.
Mohammed Shehu disclosed that President Bola Tinubu presently earns N1.5m monthly, while ministers receive less than N1 million, stating that the figures have remained unchanged since 2008.
According to him, “paying the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria N1.5m a month, with a population of over 200 million people is a joke”.
The RMAFC boss stressed that though the commission was not responsible for setting the minimum wage for civil servants or public sector workers, it was constitutionally mandated to determine the salaries of political, judicial, and legislative office holders.
The proposal was, however, greeted with stiff opposition from stakeholders, who outrightly rejected the move, citing the untold hardship bedeviling the country at the moment.
Many stakeholders believe that even when inflation makes pay raises necessary, the timing is wrong, especially at a time when countless Nigerians are passing through economic hardship and deprivations occasioned by the reform policies of the present administration.
In an interview with DAILY POST on Sunday, the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, former vice president, Atiku Abubakar and an activist lawyer, Nkereuwem Akpan Esq, called for an immediate suspension of the proposed pay raise.
Retreat your step now – NLC tells RMAFC
The spokesman of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Benson Upah told DAILY POST on Sunday that the union is outraged by the decision of the RMAFC to embark on a comprehensive upward review of the remuneration packages of political office holders across the country.
According to the NLC, the move is “insensitive, unjust, inequitable”, stressing that it 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, the majority of whom have not only been adjudged to be multi-dimensionally poor, live miserably poor.
“While we recognise the need for good remuneration packages, they should be across 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 put this exercise on hold before it triggers a tsunami”.
Whoever conceived the idea of salary increase doesn’t mean well for Tinubu govt – Atiku
Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has also condemned the move, stating that whoever conceived the idea of “salary increase for government officials doesn’t even mean well for the administration”.
In an interview with DAILY POST, Atiku’s spokesman, Paul Ibe said, “policies of Tinubu’s administration is to benefit them only.
“It is all to serve their interests. We saw how much that was wasted on the vice president’s residence”.
According to him, the “government is all about wastage. The saddest part of it is that these monies are all borrowed. Borrowed is supposed to be put into productive use.
“Our children are going to pay back those loans, they are not free. So it is very insensitive of the government to be talking about increasing the salaries of public officials.
“The so-called minimum wage is not even a living wage. The wage cannot take average civil servants home. As things stand now, minimum wage in Nigeria cannot buy a bag of rice.
“The civil servant still has the school fees of his children to pay, he has healthcare and he is even being tasked here and beyond. They have been engaging in ill-conceived tasks that do not in any way grow our economy.
“Whoever came up with the idea of salary increase for government officials doesn’t even mean well for the administration. It is a no. This is not a government of yourself, by your family and for your friends”.
Activist lawyer, Chief Nkereuwem Udofia Akpan laments humongous allowances for government officials
On his part, Chief Nkereuwem Udofia Akpan, Constitutional Lawyer and human rights activist says government officials, especially members of the National Assembly should have the number of their allowances slashed.
In an interview with DAILY POST, the lawyer said the National Assembly constitutes a real drain on the economy.
“If you consider the humongous and mind-bogging allowances each of the 109 Senators and 460 Representatives take home in a month, vehicle allowances, accommodation, entertainment, car maintenance, furniture then the almighty politics behind those constituency projects,” he stated.
On the proposed pay raise, the activist lawyer wondered why “someone like Mr President who has been a Senator and two term governor of Lagos State and has practically controlled the State ever since” is still looking for a salary increase.
“The First Lady was recently quoted as saying that they were already rich before coming to Aso Rock and most Nigerians agree with her.
“Let’s be honest about these things for once. These sort of stories are somehow diversionary, misleading and truly unnecessary
“I say so for the following reasons: Firstly, it’s not about the official salaries and take home pay but the official jumbo packages and perks, that is the problem.
“Secondly, the real problem is the brazen corruption, rot in the system and the outright looting of public funds through awards of contracts; the use of fronts for these massive contracts are the real issues.
“I would rather the President earns a handsome official salary than his being connected to contractors or involvement in oil deals.
“Away from the above, if you consider the stupendous wealth of our public servants, especially those who have served as two term governors and the fact that they are still accumulating wealth, you will be forgiven to think that these people don’t believe that death is around the corner.”
NLC, Atiku’s aide, activist, Akpan reject proposed salary raise for Tinubu, govs, ministers
