Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) president, Joe Ajaero, has criticised the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) over its plan to raise the salaries of political officeholders, cautioning that such a move could have dire consequences.
Gatekeepers News reports that the commission recently revealed that it was reviewing pay structures in a way that would grant the president, vice-president, Governors, and other top officials significant salary increases.
In a statement on Sunday, Ajaero described the initiative as “insensitive, unjust and inequitable”, insisting that it would worsen the already wide gap between civil servants and political leaders.
He said, “We have listened with a growing apprehension to the justification for this ill-advised adventure by the Chairman of RMAFC, Mr Mohammed Usman.”
Ajaero warned that turning public office into a “sanctuary for wealth-making (for literally doing nothing) instead of service and sacrifice” would heighten desperation for political positions and could eventually result in self-extinction.
According to the NLC president, the rationale offered by RMAFC was largely puerile and an insult to Nigerians’ collective intelligence.
He argued that the explanation overlooked the humongous advantages tied to such offices, presented as “perquisites, ways and means”, while ordinary citizens struggled to survive.
He added, “This is aside from other unwritten and unmentionable advantages that set them apart from the other disadvantaged citizenry.”
Ajaero also condemned the timing of the review, pointing out that many public subsectors are experiencing promotion and salary freezes, with workers still held down by the N70,000 minimum wage despite rising costs.
He recalled that in previous wage adjustments, civil servants got “less than 50 percent increases, while political office holders enjoyed increments exceeding 800 percent.”
Highlighting the inequities in Nigeria’s wage system, the labour leader stressed that civil servants earn different salaries depending on their states, while political officeholders enjoy uniform pay nationwide.
He said, “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.”
Ajaero added that one of the most heinous crimes against humanity is the institution and promotion of apartheid in any human setting, no matter how subtle.
He further demanded that the current salaries of political officeholders be disclosed, along with the criteria for the proposed adjustment.
The NLC President concluded with a stern warning: “RMAFC should put on hold this exercise before it triggers a tsunami.”
