The former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has publicly criticised a proposal to increase the salaries of political office holders in Nigeria. His comments come after the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) suggested a review of the remuneration packages.
In a statement, Obi said the proposal was causing “widespread anger and bitterness among Nigerians.”
The outcry targets a proposal from the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), the body constitutionally mandated to determine the remuneration of officials.
In a post shared on his X account on Wednesday, Obi articulated the fury of many citizens, stating that such a move “not only portrays the insensitivity of leaders but also exposes their greed.”
He argued that “the proposed over 100% salary increase for political office holders is totally unjustifiable considering the economic realities facing our country.”
Central to his critique is the principle that political office is a service to the nation, and not a means to accumulate wealth. He expressed particular dismay that the RMAFC is “prioritising the welfare of political office holders over that of security personnel, particularly police officers who are grossly underpaid and overworked.”
The former Anambra State governor urged that the government “to redirect its focus towards improving the living conditions of public workers, who are the backbone of our country.”
Mr Obi’s comments highlight a stark contrast in priorities within the government. His criticism of the RMAFC’s proposal stands in sharp relief to the recent defence of President Bola Tinubu’s administration against criticism of its representation at an international conference.
Yesterday, the presidency publicly defended its strategy at the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9) in Japan, after a viral social media post showed an empty Nigeria booth.
In that instance, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga released a statement insisting the delegation was “laser-focused on its core objectives of achieving tangible outcomes” from high-level engagements.
The statement detailed that the delegation “didn’t come to Yokohama and Tokyo to attend any Trade Expo,” but was instead involved in meetings with executives from Toyota Corporation and negotiating power projects funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), including one for which “$190 million has been provided.”
The RMAFC’s proposal is not yet official policy but has sparked a pre-emptive and furious debate. The commission, which last reviewed political office holders’ salaries in 2007, has argued that a review is long overdue to reflect current economic realities, including the high inflation that has also eroded the value of their earnings.
However, opponents like Mr Obi counter that this argument is profoundly tone-deaf. They point to the fact that the real value of the minimum wage has collapsed for ordinary Nigerians and that many public sector workers, including police officers and teachers, survive on wages that are well below the poverty line. The proposed increase would see the salaries of politicians, who already receive substantial non-salary allowances, rise dramatically while the minimum wage negotiations for other public servants continue to be a contentious and slow-moving process.
Critics see the move as a classic example of a governing elite prioritising its own comfort over the welfare of the populace it serves, a perception that poses a significant challenge to the Tinubu administration as it continues to implement tough economic reforms. Mr Obi concluded his statement with a call to “prioritise the welfare of Nigerians, particularly those in the public service, who have been neglected for far too long,” ending with his signature phrase: “A new Nigeria is Possible.”
Discussion about this post