RMAFC Proposes Salary Hike for President, Ministers; NLC Kicks Against Move

The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has suggested a possible increase in the salaries of President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, federal ministers, and members of the National Assembly. Chairman of the Commission, Mohammed Shehu, made this known during a press briefing in Abuja on Monday, citing the current salary structure as outdated and inadequate.

Shehu noted that the remuneration for top government officials has remained unchanged since 2008, despite the growing responsibilities of their offices and worsening economic conditions. He questioned the fairness of paying the President a monthly salary of N1.5 million in a country of over 200 million people, while heads of agencies and financial institutions earn significantly more. “It’s unjust for a CBN governor or a DG to earn ten to twenty times more than the President or the Attorney-General,” he said.

However, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has vehemently opposed the proposal. The union argued that it would be grossly unfair to raise politicians’ salaries at a time when ordinary Nigerians are grappling with soaring inflation, hunger, and economic hardship.

The NLC warned that such a move would further widen inequality and send the wrong message to struggling citizens, urging the government to instead focus on alleviating poverty and improving workers’ welfare.