Abuja, Nigeria — The Speak Out Africa Initiative (SOAI), a civil society watchdog, has joined voices across the country in condemning the proposal by the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to increase the salaries of political office holders.
In a press statement made available to News Global, SOAI described the move as “ill-timed, insensitive, and provocative,” stressing that it is a cruel joke on over 133 million multi-dimensionally poor Nigerians struggling with hunger, insecurity, and unemployment.
According to the group’s Lead Director, Kenneth Eze, RMAFC’s argument that the current salaries of politicians are inadequate is “disingenuous” and fails to reflect the reality of allowances and other benefits enjoyed by the ruling class.
SOAI argued that the official salaries of political office holders make up only a fraction of their earnings, while “the real luxury and flamboyance lie in the opaque and gargantuan allowances” covering housing, travel, entertainment, utilities, and medical bills—funded by taxpayers.
The group outlined four major objections to the proposed increase:
- Height of Provocation: At a time when the agreed ₦70,000 minimum wage has not been fully implemented, raising salaries for politicians is seen as unjustifiable.
- Double-Dipping and Impunity: Many office holders, including former governors, continue to receive pensions alongside federal benefits, despite court rulings against the practice.
- Misplaced Priorities: SOAI questioned why government finds resources to increase its officials’ pay while neglecting electricity, education, and healthcare.
- Sacrifice Hypocrisy: While ordinary citizens bear the brunt of fuel subsidy removal and rising costs, leaders remain insulated from such hardships.
The organization called on RMAFC to shelve the proposal immediately and urged the National Assembly to reject any attempt to approve it. It also demanded full disclosure of the total remuneration packages of political office holders, including allowances.
SOAI further appealed to labour unions, civil society, and Nigerians at large to resist what it described as “an attempt to widen the gap between the ruling class and the suffering masses.”
“Enough is enough. Let the political class first sacrifice their obscene perks, end double-dipping, and fix the nation’s pressing issues. Until then, any talk of a salary increase is dead on arrival,” the statement read in part.
The group concluded with hashtags such as #NoToJumboPay and #LetThemLeadByExample, emphasizing that political office should be about service, not enrichment.
Kenneth Eze cpm
Lead Director, Speak Out Africa Initiative (SOAI)
info@speakoutafricainitiative.org
