Outrage as RMAFC defends NASS, political office holders jumbo salaries

Yesterday, there was widespread outrage following the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission’s defense of substantial pay for National Assembly members and political officeholders.

The RMAFC Chairman, Muhammed Shehu, refuted claims of exorbitant salaries, asserting that public officeholders did not receive excessive incomes.

Last June, Shehu had announced a proposed 114 percent salary increase for politicians, judicial officials, and public officeholders. He clarified that President Bola Tinubu’s salary was less than N1.5 million, while ministers earned less than N1 million.

Shehu highlighted that what appeared as excessive earnings were actually statutory office running costs, which should be managed centrally by the National Assembly Service Commission.

He emphasized that these were not salaries but operational expenses for running their offices.

Regarding the 114 percent salary review, Shehu explained that it had been postponed due to economic challenges, with the last review occurring in 2007. He emphasized that political officeholders did not receive extravagant emoluments as rumored.

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Despite Shehu’s clarification, many expressed outrage over the justification for salary increases, including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), Labour Party, activist Annkio Briggs, and former House of Representatives member Abdul Oroh.

NLC’s President, Joe Ajaero, deemed the pay raise unacceptable and unjustifiable in a country grappling with high governance costs.

NECA’s Director-General, Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, emphasized the need for just and equitable salary allocation, particularly when the national minimum wage was N30,000 per month, highlighting growing wage disparities in the public sector.