The Ebonyi State chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), alongside civil society groups and other concerned parties, has strongly criticized a legislative proposal to increase the salaries and allowances of the nation’s political officeholders.
The stakeholders, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abakaliki on Monday, unanimously described the plan as profoundly insensitive and indefensible given the country’s current economic challenges. They called on the Federal Government to redirect its focus toward ensuring the security and welfare of all Nigerians.
Their reaction targets a move by the National Assembly and the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to approve a pay raise for top government officials. They argue that this initiative demonstrates a blatant disregard for ordinary citizens, especially as the recently established N70,000 minimum wage has already been significantly devalued by inflation.
Professor Egwu Oguguo, Chairman of the NLC in Ebonyi and a lecturer at Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Ikwo (AE-FUNAI), labeled the proposal “anti-people” and a violation of “natural justice.” He stated that while millions of Nigerians grapple with hunger and multidimensional poverty, government officials should not be considering further enriching themselves.
“It is actually very insensitive for government to consider raising the pay of officials while citizens are lost in survival struggles,” Oguguo said. “Any such increase will only widen inequality, fuel social vices and provoke public anger.”
Echoing this sentiment, Professor Fidelis Ochim of the Federal University, Lafia, Nasarawa State, cautioned that the proposed hike would constitute a disservice to Nigerians enduring hardship from economic mismanagement. He emphasized that the primary duty of the state is to safeguard the welfare of its citizens, not to prioritize the comfort of a privileged few.
“Our leaders should prioritise the welfare and security of the ordinary citizens who are daily struggling against economic hardship and insecurity,” Ochim said.
From a legal perspective, Mr. Chidi Ude, an Abakaliki-based lawyer, contended that the proposal contradicts constitutional principles of equity. He pointed out that Nigeria’s political leaders are already among the world’s highest paid and cannot justify a raise while civil servants are owed back pay and pensioners are left in distress.
“The proposed pay rise for the elected office holders by the National Assembly lacks justification and could further lead to economic paralysis,” Ude argued.
Ms. Angela Nwafor, Coordinator of the Civil Society Coalition for Good Governance, stated that the move reinforces the public perception of a political class that is entirely disconnected from reality. She warned that a democracy is endangered when governance appears to serve the interests of less than one percent of the population.
“The Senate president once jokingly said; ‘as you protest, we are eating’. This pay rise agenda shows the same mindset,” Nwafor said. “It is the principle of sound leadership to pursue self-interest while failing to provide basic infrastructure, health and education for the majority.”
The collective of stakeholders urged the government to immediately abandon the plan to increase political officeholders’ pay. Instead, they advised that resources be channeled into revitalizing the economy, increasing workers’ wages, and addressing the nation’s pervasive insecurity. They concluded with a warning that continued governmental insensitivity could precipitate widespread social unrest.