Peter Obi condemns 114% pay increase for Tinubu, governors

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has criticised the approval of a 114% pay increase for political and judicial office holders at a time citizens are paying a huge cost following the removal of fuel subsidy and the decline of the naira.

Mr Obi said the timing of the raise was wrong, “if it is at all necessary”, and called for an immediate reversal.

His remarks came Thursday after the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) said it more than doubled the wages of elected political office holders, judicial and other public office holders as there had been no review for 16 years.

The increase affects the president, vice president, governors, deputy governors, ministers, commissioners, special advisers, legislators and other related officials.

Muhammadu Shehu, chairman of the RMAFC, said the effective date for the implementation of the reviewed remuneration packages was January 1, 2023. He called on state houses of assembly to quickly amend relevant laws to allow the implementation of the new packages for public office holders.

– None yet for citizens

Coming at a time citizens face rising living costs, the announcement has surprised many Nigerians. Inflation rose 22.4% in the last one year to May and is expected to rise further following the removal of petrol subsidy and the devaluation of naira.

The government has said it will discuss calls for wage increase but has not given a clear commitment yet.

The commission recommended that allowances and fringe benefits be maintained at current levels, except for judges who will receive three new allowances.

– Not appropriate

“We are living in a time when an average Nigerian is struggling with many harsh economic realities, and with over 130 million Nigerians now living in poverty. This is a moment when recent reform measures by the government have increased living costs astronomically,” Mr Obi said in a post on Twitter.

“One would expect the leaders and public officeholders to focus on cutting the cost of governance, alleviating the sufferings of Nigerians. This moment calls for creative ways of pulling the majority out of poverty.

“The sacrifice, at this time in our nation, should be borne by the leaders. The increment should be reversed immediately, and the savings should be devoted to fixing education, healthcare and poverty alleviation especially in the remote rural areas.”