The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has strongly opposed the planned salary increase for President Bola Tinubu and other political office holders, warning that the move by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) could worsen inequality and spark nationwide outrage.
The warning comes after RMAFC Chairman, Mohammed Shehu, lamented that the President currently earns ₦1.5 million monthly, while ministers take home less than ₦1 million — figures that have remained unchanged since 2008.
“Insensitive and Unjust” – NLC
In a statement released on Sunday in Abuja, NLC President Joe Ajaero described the proposal as “insensitive, unjust, inequitable, and a direct threat to social stability.”
“We are outraged by the decision of RMAFC to embark on a comprehensive upward review of the remuneration packages of political office holders. This move is insensitive and will only succeed in widening the inequality between civil servants and political office holders,” Ajaero said.
He dismissed the justification put forward by RMAFC as inadequate, stressing that public office should not be turned into an avenue for wealth accumulation.
“It Will Deepen Poverty”
According to Ajaero, the proposed salary hike will worsen poverty among Nigerians, most of whom are already classified as multi-dimensionally poor. He further warned that such a move would intensify the scramble for political positions, leading to “dangerous consequences for governance and stability.”
The labour leader criticized the timing of the review, noting that it comes at a period when workers are struggling with stagnant wages, rising inflation, and unbearable living costs.
Politicians vs. Civil Servants
The NLC pointed out that the current ₦70,000 minimum wage is grossly inadequate, while civil servants’ last wage adjustment was below 50%. In contrast, political office holders reportedly enjoyed pay increases of more than 800% within the same period.
The union stressed that while civil servants’ wages have always been tied to resource availability, politicians have consistently benefited from uniform pay structures, regardless of states’ fiscal realities.
NLC’s Demands
The NLC demanded that RMAFC immediately:
Publish the current earnings of all political office holders.
Explain the criteria for the proposed salary review.
Suspend the planned exercise to prevent what it described as a potential “tsunami.”
The Congress vowed to resist any attempt to implement the salary increase, insisting that the government should focus on improving workers’ welfare and addressing Nigeria’s widening economic inequality.
