The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has objected to the proposed salary increase for political office holders, describing the move as tone-deaf and an affront to the struggling Nigeria people.
The proposed review by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), would see the President, Vice President, governors, and other top officials receive substantial pay increases.
This is however, coming at a time a majority of Nigerians are grappling with the effects of inflation, rising fuel costs, and an inadequate minimum wage.
In a statement by the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party noted the constitutional mandate of the RMAFC to review salaries of political office holders, but claimed considering such at this time further underlined how far the government was disconnected from the reality of Nigerian people.
The ADC, therefore, condemned the plan by RMAFC to increase the salaries of political office holders.
‘’We are aware of the Commission’s constitutional mandate to periodically review relevant emoluments of political office holders in the country.
“However, 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,’’ he said.
The ADC said while the Chairman of RMAFC attempted to justify the proposed increases by describing the current pay structure of political office holders as “inadequate, unrealistic, and outdated,” it wished to draw the public’s attention to the fact that the salaries were already supplemented with sundry bogus and opaque allowances, perks, and other discretionary funds, which together far exceeded what ordinary Nigerians earned.
“How else are the political office holders able to support their lifestyle of luxury and opulence if indeed these ‘outdated’ salaries means anything to them.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.
“In light of these developments, the ADC demands that this absurd 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.”
ThisDay
