The African Democratic Congress (ADC), has rejected the proposed salary increase for political office holders in the country.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr Bolaji Abdullahi, made the position of the party known in a statement in Abuja, saying that such move should be suspended.
Abdullahi said that such substantial pay increase was unfair at a time when millions of Nigerians were grappling with the effects of inflation, rising fuel costs and inadequate minimum wage.
The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), had proposed review of the salaries to the President, Vice President, governors and other top officials.
“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.
Abdullahi noted that the attempt by the chairman of RMAFC to justify the proposed increases was not acceptable.
He said that the salaries of the political office holders were already supplemented with sundry bogus allowances and other discretionary funds, far exceed what ordinary Nigerians earn, with N70,000 minimum wage per month.
Abdullahi said unlike the public office holders, most Nigerians do not receive additional allowances or emoluments to cushion the effects of the rising costs of living.
“In the light of these developments, the ADC demands that the 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 affluence.
“Government has no moral right to demand sacrifice from ordinary citizens while they focus on making lives easier for themselves.
“Political office holders cannot be insulated from economic hardships, while the everyday-Nigerian suffers,” he said.
Abdullahi said that the ADC believed that rather than further enriching political elites, all government policies at this time should prioritise raising the minimum wage to a living standard.
He added that government should ensure timely and fair salaries for our civil servants and strengthening Nigerians social welfare programmes to reach the most vulnerable Nigerians.
