The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has strongly opposed the proposed salary increase for Nigeria’s political office holders, calling it “tone-deaf” and “an affront to the Nigerian people” who are already grappling with economic hardship.
The proposal, by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), seeks to raise the pay of the President, Vice President, governors, and other top officials at a time of widespread inflation, rising fuel costs, and inadequate wages.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, August 20, by Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, the ADC noted that while RMAFC has the constitutional mandate to review salaries, “considering such at this time further underlines how far this government is disconnected from the reality of Nigerian people.”
The statement continued: “The African Democratic Congress (ADC) strongly condemns the plan by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to increase the salaries of political office holders, including the President, Vice President, Senate President, governors, and other top officials.”
The party criticised RMAFC Chairman’s justification that current salaries were “inadequate, unrealistic, and outdated,” insisting that office holders already enjoy “bogus and opaque allowances, perks, and other discretionary funds” which far exceed the earnings of ordinary citizens.
“How else are the political office holders able to support their lifestyle of luxury and opulence if indeed these ‘outdated’ salaries mean anything to them?” the party queried.
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Citing the plight of workers, the ADC recalled that Nigeria’s national minimum wage is ₦70,000 per month, a figure eroded by inflation and often unpaid.
It added that unlike politicians, “most Nigerians do not receive additional allowances or emoluments to cushion the effects of the rising costs of living.”
The party declared that the proposed hike should be halted immediately.
“This proposed plan to increase the salaries of public office holders is not only tone-deaf, it is an all-out affront to the Nigerian people.
“It signals that the government is clearly disconnected from the struggles of ordinary citizens,” the statement read.
The ADC stressed that government has “no moral right to demand sacrifice from ordinary citizens while they focus on making lives easier for themselves,” urging instead that policies should prioritise raising the minimum wage to a living standard, ensuring timely pay for civil servants, and strengthening social welfare programmes.