The recent declaration by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) that Nigeria’s political office holders deserve salary increases represents one of the most tone-deaf and insensitive propositions in the nation’s contemporary political discourse. The commission’s characterization of President Bola Tinubu’s monthly salary of N1.5 million as “a joke” and ministers earning less than N1 million as “grossly underpaid” reveals a staggering disconnect from the harsh realities facing ordinary Nigerians. This proposed pay rise is not merely incredulous—it is an unconscionable affront to the sensibilities and sufferings of millions of citizens struggling through the nation’s tasking times in decades.
The RMAFC’s justification for this proposed salary review rests on several arguments that, when examined against Nigeria’s current socioeconomic landscape, reveal themselves to be both hollow and hypocritical. The commission’s primary contention that political office holders’ salaries have remained static for 17 years conveniently ignores the astronomical increases in allowances, perks, and unofficial compensation that have ballooned over this same period.
The argument that current salaries are inadequate becomes particularly incredulous when one considers the comprehensive compensation packages enjoyed by these officials. Beyond their basic salaries, politicians receive vast allowances, estacodes, constituency project funds, security votes, and countless other perks that dwarf their nominal salaries. As revealed in the analysis, while the President’s official salary may be N1.5 million monthly, the total package with allowances can exceed N100 million. Similarly, senators earn up to N21 million per month when all allowances are factored in, with top lawmakers receiving N500 million for constituency projects alone in the previous year.
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The commission’s assertion that these officials are “underpaid” compared to their counterparts elsewhere willfully ignores certain factors such as the purchasing power disparities and the economic context within which they operate. In a country where the minimum wage struggles to cover basic necessities, where inflation has rendered the N70,000 minimum wage practically worthless, and where the average Nigerian cannot afford a bag of rice, not to talk of three square meals, the suggestion that politicians earning millions monthly are somehow disadvantaged is not just incredulous—it is insulting.
This proposed pay increase represents more than policy misjudgment; it constitutes a deliberate assault on the dignity and intelligence of the Nigerian people. At a time when families are forced to cut back on meals, delay medical treatment, and withdraw their children from school due to economic hardship, the political elite’s preoccupation with enhancing their own compensation reveals a callous disregard for public sentiment and social responsibility.
The timing of this proposal is particularly galling. Nigeria’s economy stands on the precipice, with debt servicing consuming half of all government revenue. Unemployment rates have reached catastrophic levels, driving young Nigerians to seek opportunities abroad in unprecedented numbers. Hospitals remain underfunded, universities barely function as they should, and critical infrastructure remains in deficits. Against this backdrop of national decay and citizen suffering, the RMFAC’s singular focus on personal enrichment exposes a level of moral bankruptcy that would be comical if it weren’t so tragic.
The contrast between the proposed salary increases and the grudging concession of the N70,000 minimum wage after months of strikes and negotiations highlights the hypocrisy embedded in Nigeria’s governance structure. While workers’ demands for a living wage of N494,000 were dismissed as economically impossible, RMFAC’s “asheju” members apparently believe the national treasury can accommodate enhanced compensation for our office holders without strain.
The proposed salary review becomes even more egregious when viewed against the Tinubu administration’s repeated calls for sacrifice and patience from the Nigerian people. The administration has consistently urged citizens to endure present hardships for the promise of future prosperity, asking for understanding regarding painful policy decisions like fuel subsidy removal and currency devaluation. This appeal for collective sacrifice rings hollow when RMFAC comes up with such an idea, seeking to exempt these leaders from the austerity they preach.
The hypocrisy is staggering. While ordinary Nigerians grapple with skyrocketing petrol prices, astronomical electricity tariffs, and crushing inflation, their leaders contemplate increasing their own comfort levels. This selective application of sacrifice—where hardship is for the masses while privilege is preserved for the elite—undermines any moral authority the administration might claim in asking for public endurance and cooperation.
Historical precedent demonstrates that responsible leadership involves shared sacrifice during national crises. Irish ministers accepted pay cuts of up to 30 percent during the 2008 recession. New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and her cabinet reduced their salaries by 20 percent during the COVID-19 pandemic. Greek public officials absorbed substantial salary reductions during their debt crisis. These examples illustrate that genuine leadership means leading by example, particularly during times of national hardship.
RMFAC’S ‘s failure to embrace this principle of shared sacrifice not only undermines its credibility but also perpetuates the dangerous disconnect between rulers and the ruled that has historically characterized Nigerian governance. By attempting to insulate political leaders from the economic reality they have helped create, RMFAC only seeks to make Nigerians more embittered with the political class, who knows if the citizenry will be able to bear such extra strain.
Rather the funds contemplated for political salary increases could address critical national needs that have been neglected for decades. Nigeria’s healthcare system requires massive investment to function effectively, yet politicians prioritize personal compensation over public health infrastructure. The education sector, crippled by years of underfunding and neglect, desperately needs resources to train teachers, equip schools, and ensure access to quality education for all citizens.
The unresolved 2009 agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) represents a particularly glaring example of misplaced priorities. For over a decade, successive administrations have failed to fully implement agreements that would revitalize Nigeria’s university system and end the cycle of strikes that has disrupted academic calendars. The funds being considered for political pay rises could significantly advance the implementation of these agreements, ending the educational uncertainty that has plagued Nigerian students and their families.
Beyond education and healthcare, Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit requires urgent attention. Roads, power generation, water supply, and telecommunications infrastructure all need substantial investment to support economic growth and improve living standards. The irony is profound: while basic infrastructure crumbles and citizens struggle with unreliable power supply and impassable roads, RMFAC is debating enhancing their own compensation packages.
The proposed salary increase fails not just on economic grounds but on fundamental moral principles. In a democracy, public service should represent a commitment to collective welfare, not an opportunity for personal enrichment. When political leaders prioritize their own financial comfort over citizen welfare, they violate the basic social contract that legitimizes their authority.
The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission’s proposal for political salary increases represents everything wrong with Nigeria’s governance culture: insensitivity to public suffering, disconnection from economic reality, and prioritization of elite interests over national welfare. This proposal deserves not debate but outright rejection.
Rather than increasing political salaries, Nigeria needs leaders who understand that true leadership involves sacrifice, particularly during national crises. The resources being contemplated for pay increases should be redirected toward healthcare, education, infrastructure, and the implementation of long-overdue agreements like the 2009 ASUU accord.
Until the minimum wage reflects economic reality and Nigerian workers can live with dignity, any discussion of enhanced compensation for politicians represents not just poor judgment but a provocative assault on national sensibilities. The time has come for political leaders to demonstrate that they understand the difference between public service and self-service, between leadership and lordship. Only then can they legitimately ask for the patience and sacrifice they have repeatedly demanded from the Nigerian people.