The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has raised strong objections to the proposed salary increases for the political office holders in the country.
This comes on the heels of the ongoing review revenue sharing formula to the three tiers of government by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to increase the salaries of political office holders, including the President, Vice President, Senate President, governors, and other top officials.
While noting that it is aware of the Commission’s constitutional mandate to carry out periodic review, the party said proposing such review at a time when millions of Nigerians are struggling with soaring food inflation, high cost of fuel, inadequate and largely unpaid minimum wage would indicate a total disregard for the people.
ADC, in a statement on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, explained that while the Chairman of RMAFC in an attempt to justify the proposed increases described the current pay structure of political office holders as “inadequate, unrealistic, and outdated,” it wishes to draw the public’s attention to the fact that these salaries are already supplemented with sundry bogus and opaque allowances, perks, and other discretionary funds, which together far exceed what ordinary Nigerians earn.
“How else are the political office holders able to support their lifestyle of luxury and opulence if indeed these “outdated” salaries means anything to them.
“For perspective, our national minimum wage stands at N70,000 per month — a figure that has been largely eroded by the APC’s inflation, even where it has been paid. Yet, unlike public office holders, most Nigerians do not receive additional allowances or emoluments to cushion the effects of the rising costs of living.
“This is why, this proposed plan to increase the salaries of public office holders is not only tone-deaf, it is an all-out affront to the Nigerian people. It signals that the government is clearly disconnected from the struggles of ordinary citizens,” the party said, demanding that the plan be suspended immediately.
“No such increase should be implemented while ordinary citizens are grappling with extreme financial hardship. Government should focus on improving the lives of the people rather than improving the salaries of the President and other political office holders who already live-in obscene indulgence,” it added.
ADC submitted that “the Government has no moral right to demand sacrifice from ordinary citizens while they focus on making lives easier for themselves. Political office holders cannot be insulated from economic hardships, while the everyday-Nigerian suffers.
“As a party, we strongly believe that rather than further enriching political elites, all government policies at this time should prioritize raising the minimum wage to a living standard, ensuring timely and fair salaries for our civil servants, and strengthening our social welfare programs to reach the most vulnerable Nigerians.”
