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Labour Warns RMAFC: Stop Political Pay Rise Before It Triggers National Crisis
In a statement released on Sunday in Abuja, NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, condemned the proposal, calling it “insensitive, unjust, inequitable, and a direct threat to social stability.” He argued that raising the pay of political leaders at a time of widespread economic hardship would only worsen the already dire conditions faced by ordinary Nigerians.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a strong warning to the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) over its proposed upward review of remuneration for political office holders, saying the move is “insensitive” and could deepen inequality and provoke nationwide outrage.
In a statement released on Sunday in Abuja, NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, condemned the proposal, calling it “insensitive, unjust, inequitable, and a direct threat to social stability.” He argued that raising the pay of political leaders at a time of widespread economic hardship would only worsen the already dire conditions faced by ordinary Nigerians.
“We are outraged by the decision of RMAFC to embark on a comprehensive upward review of the remuneration packages of political office holders,” Ajaero stated. “This move is insensitive and will only succeed in widening the inequality between civil servants and political office holders.”
Ajaero also criticised RMAFC Chairman, Mr. Mohammed Usman, for offering what he called an inadequate justification for the planned review. He warned that turning political office into a lucrative opportunity rather than a platform for public service would fuel unhealthy competition for power and pose serious risks to national governance and stability.
The NLC highlighted that the timing of the proposal is particularly troubling, as civil servants continue to endure salary stagnation under a N70,000 minimum wage — an amount that has not kept pace with the rising cost of living. While the most recent wage review for civil servants fell below 50 percent, political office holders are reported to have received pay increases exceeding 800 percent.
The union also pointed out a long-standing imbalance: civil servants’ salaries are often constrained by state financial limitations, yet political leaders consistently receive uniform remuneration across the country, regardless of local economic conditions.
The NLC demanded full public disclosure of the current earnings of all political office holders and called for transparency around the criteria for any proposed adjustment. It urged RMAFC to immediately suspend the pay review to prevent what it described as “a potential tsunami.”
