Nigerians Decry Tinubu, Political Office Holders’ Move To Earn Fat Salaries Amidst Surging Hunger, Inflation
Some Nigerians have lambasted the President Bola Tinubu-led federal government on its plans to raise the salaries of political office holders in the country.
OSUN DEFENDER reports that the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission had on Monday hinted at plans to review the salaries of political office holders.
The move comes as US Department of State noted that the N70,000 minimum wage for workers has been undermined owing by the depreciation of the naira.
RMAFC Chairman, Mohammed Shehu, who described the current earnings as inadequate, unrealistic, and outdated in the face of rising responsibilities and economic challenges. stressing President Bola Tinubu’s present N1.5m monthly remuneration and Ministers receiving less than N1m since 2008 is no longer feasible.
“You are paying the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria N1.5m a month, with a population of over 200 million people. Everybody believes that it is a joke,” Shehu said.
He added, “You cannot pay a minister less than N1m per month since 2008 and expect him to put in his best without necessarily being involved in some other things. You pay either a CBN governor or the DG ten times more than you pay the President. That is just not right. Or you pay him [the head of an agency] twenty times higher than the Attorney-General of the Federation. That is absolutely not right.”
Reacting to the development, some Nigerians who spoke on Tuesday, berated the government’s fresh plans, stating that it is a reflection of how political office holders prioritse their welfare above the plight of Nigerians.
Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER, a public affairs analyst, Comrade George Adeola observed that rather than address the lingering hardship and inflation, politicians have continued to devise ways of earning more resources from the country’s treasury.
“It is sad in a country where inflation is almost running to 35%, hunger is on the rise, cost of living is thrice what it was two years ago, hunger is affecting more than 60% of citizens, politicians are looking for ways to enrich themselves. That is the irony of our country.
“People used to say our President is a super-rich man. Why does he want to earn more salaries? What about their allowances? People do not know how big these people earn in terms of allowances and other emoluments. It is just too sad,” Adeola noted.
Also in his submission on a radio programme monitored by the medium in Osogbo, on Tuesday, a journalist, Mr. Bamigbola Gbolagunte described the move as unnecessary.
Stressing that such decisions do not reflect the conformity of the nation’s leaders with the mood of the nation, Gbolagunte emphasised the need for more attention on critical sectors of the economy that will make life more bearable for the downtrodden.
“The idea is unncessary at this time. Inflation is up high, poverty is endemic and people cannot even eat two square meals a day. Yes, you may have that amount as the salary of Mr. President, but do you know how much goes into estacodes when they travel? The allowances and perks of the office he occupies is much more than the salaries.
“Let our politicians concentrate on delivering good governance. Let them serve us. They are earning so much more already,” Gbolagunte stated further.
In a related development, the US Human Rights Practices Report for 2024, dated August 12 and released by the US Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labour, noted that the Nigerian minimum wage, pegged at about $47.90 per month, had lost its value due to the naira trading at over N1,500 to the dollar.
It added that firms with fewer than 25 workers did not benefit from the wage increase.
“The National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act 2024 doubled the minimum wage to 70,000 naira ($47.90) per month.
“Despite the increase, currency devaluation meant the minimum wage was no longer higher than the poverty income level.
“Many employers had fewer than 25 employees, so most workers were not covered,” the report said.
The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) also criticised the move, saying the proposal ignores the country’s worsening inequality and the hidden perks that already inflate earnings in government.
The union insisted that the real problem is not the official salary figures but the allowances and perks of office that remain hidden from public view.
“The President’s salary may be about N1.5m a month, but when allowances are added, the total package can exceed N100 million,” an NLC high-ranking official who did not want his name mentioned due to a lack of authorisation to speak on the matter, told The PUNCH.
“Allowances for medical care, housing, digital services, internet access, security, travel, and even COVID-related expenses are all buried in the system. If the government can publish the president’s salary, then it should also publish these allowances, because that is where the true burden lies.”n lies.”
Sodiq Yusuf is a trained media practitioner and journalist with considerable years of experience in print, broadcast, and digital journalism. His interests cover a wide range of causes in politics, governance, sports, community development, and good governance.
