The Federal Government is considering raising the salaries of political office holders, a move that has triggered outrage among Nigerians grappling with inflation and deepening poverty.
Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Mohammed Shehu, announced in Abuja on Monday that the salaries of top officials, including President Bola Tinubu and ministers, have remained stagnant since 2008. Tinubu currently earns N1.5 million monthly, while ministers take home less than N1 million. Shehu described the figures as “a joke” given Nigeria’s population and the responsibilities of such offices.
He also pointed out the imbalance between political office holders and heads of government agencies, some of whom reportedly earn up to twenty times more than ministers or even the Attorney-General of the Federation.
The proposal, however, has drawn sharp criticism in a country where workers are still struggling to secure a living wage. The national minimum wage is pegged at N70,000, yet several states have failed to implement it, particularly for local government workers and teachers. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), over 133 million Nigerians—63 percent of the population—currently live in poverty.
“Nigeria Exists for Greedy Politicians” – Academic
Professor Chidiebere Nwachukwu of the University of Nigeria dismissed the proposal as misplaced. He argued that while ordinary workers, including teachers and lecturers, are underpaid and neglected, politicians continue to enrich themselves at the expense of the masses.
“The people that need an increase are those being ignored,” Nwachukwu warned, adding that prioritising politicians could eventually provoke mass revolt.
“Wrong Priorities” – Economist
Economist Dr. Samson Simon of ARKK Economics faulted the plan, insisting that political office holders are already among the highest earners globally. He stressed that lawmakers in particular receive allowances and perks far above their official salaries, often amounting to about N30 million monthly.
“Why do you pay a primary school teacher a fraction of that and expect results?” Simon asked, calling the proposal “wrong priority” and warning it fuels greed-driven politics.
“A Deception” – Legal Expert
Civil rights advocate Olu Omotayo, President of CRRAN, described the planned salary review as deceptive. According to him, Nigerian leaders already live entirely on government expense through allowances, travel benefits, and other perks. “The issue is not salaries but wasteful expenditure. Government should cut allowances instead of pretending with pay raises,” he said.
The development has reignited debate on governance, accountability, and the cost of politics in Africa’s largest democracy, as citizens continue to demand economic relief and social justice.
