The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has strongly condemned the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission’s (RMAFC) decision to embark on a comprehensive upward review of the remuneration packages of political office holders across the country.
In a press statement signed by its President, **Comrade Joe Ajaero**, the NLC described the move as *“insensitive, unjust and inequitable”*, warning that it would deepen poverty and widen the inequality gap between politicians and civil servants.
According to the labour body, while civil servants have faced salary freezes, promotion stagnation and are still battling with the controversial ₦70,000 minimum wage, political office holders continue to enjoy extravagant benefits and unjustifiable salary increments.
“Making public office a sanctuary for wealth-making instead of service will only raise desperation for power, with dire consequences for the nation,” Ajaero stated.
The NLC accused RMAFC Chairman Mohammed Usman of insulting Nigerians with his defense of the proposal, noting that political leaders already enjoy “humongous perks and unwritten advantages” that set them far apart from ordinary citizens.
The union recalled that while civil servants’ last wage review was less than 50%, politicians’ salaries were increased by over 800% in the subsequent review. It further criticized the uniformity of politicians’ pay nationwide, pointing out that a councillor in Yobe earns the same as one in Rivers despite stark economic differences.
The NLC demanded the immediate suspension of the review exercise and called for transparency by publishing:
– The current earnings of all political office holders;
– The benchmark for the proposed review;
– A halt to the exercise to avoid triggering a social and economic “tsunami.”
The union stressed that equitable remuneration should apply across board and not be tilted in favour of politicians, warning that anything short of fairness amounts to “a subtle form of apartheid.
