TINUBU, GOVERNORS, AND OTHERS’ PLANNED 114% SALARY INCREASES ARE MISTIMED, SAYS PETER OBI

By Tunji Wusu

Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s nominee for president in 2023, has denounced the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC)’s proposed increase of 114% in the salaries of elected political office-holders, including the President, Vice President, Governors, Members of Congress, as well as judicial and public servants.

Obi stated in a series of tweets sent on Thursday via his verified Twitter account that such action was untimely given that the majority of Nigerians—130 million people—were battling with hard economic realities.

As a result, he believed that Nigerian leaders should make sacrifices and concentrate on reducing the cost of governing, which includes helping Nigerians escape poverty.

According to RMAFC, the stated approval of a 114% pay rise for those holding political office and judicial officers was merely a proposal at the time.

The LP presidential, however, stated: “I learned with great reservation that the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) had approved a 114% increase in the salaries of elected politicians, including the President, Vice President, Governors, Members of Congress, and holders of judicial and public office.

“If a pay increase is required at all, this is not the time for it. A typical Nigerian nowadays must contend with numerous severe economic realities, and more than 130 million people in Nigeria now live in poverty. At this time, the government’s most recent reform initiatives have dramatically raised the cost of living.

“One would anticipate that public officials and leaders would prioritize lowering the expense of governance and easing Nigerians’ suffering. Now is the time for innovative solutions to help the majority escape poverty.

“In the immortal words of Shakespeare’s Julius Ceaser, “What touches us ourselves shall be last served.” Therefore, the leaders should put the needs of the people and those in the lower social classes above their own.

“At this moment in our country, the leaders should make the sacrifice. The increase should be stopped right away, and the money saved should go toward improving rural communities’ access to healthcare, education, and poverty relief.