FG Contemplates Pay Hike for Political Office Holders Despite Economic Hardship

In a move that is drawing sharp criticism, the Federal Government is reportedly considering a substantial pay raise for political office holders, a proposal that the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) is actively pushing. The development, which has been in the works for some time, is sparking fresh outrage from a public already struggling with soaring inflation and a high cost of living.

According to RMAFC, the salaries of political officials, which have not been reviewed since 2007, are “inadequate and unrealistic.” The commission, which is constitutionally empowered to set these wages, believes that a pay hike is necessary to ensure that public officials earn a dignified and fair wage that reflects the high cost of running their offices. In previous reports, the commission has even suggested a massive 114% increase to make the salaries more “competitive” with the private sector.

However, the proposal has been met with fierce opposition, with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) leading the charge. The NLC and other civil society groups argue that the official salaries are a mere smokescreen for a raft of hidden allowances and perks that already make political office one of the most lucrative ventures in the country. From travel expenses to housing and security, critics say these benefits already inflate earnings to an astronomical level, making the call for an official salary increase tone-deaf and insensitive to the plight of ordinary Nigerians.

The debate shines a harsh light on the vast gap between the country’s political elite and its general population. While the government is asking its citizens to endure economic hardship as a result of recent reforms, the contemplation of a pay increase for its own officials feels like a slap in the face. With organized labor already promising to resist any such move, the government finds itself at a crucial crossroads. A decision to approve the pay hike could trigger a new wave of public discontent and social instability, further straining an already fragile relationship between the government and its citizens.