…Putting Politicians’ Greed Above Public Welfare
The recent proposal by the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to raise the salaries of elected political leaders, including the President and Ministers, has sparked outrage among Nigerians. We join the voices of countless citizens in questioning both the necessity and timing of this move.
At a time when millions of Nigerians are battling rising inflation, unemployment, and declining living standards, the commission’s push for higher pay for political elites is nothing short of a national disgrace. It reflects not governance, but an outright display of greed, coming at the expense of the struggling majority.
The suggested 114% increase for political office holders is indefensible and deeply insensitive to the nation’s economic realities. Public office should be about service, not self-enrichment. Moreover, the secrecy surrounding the true earnings of these leaders, who already enjoy hefty allowances and countless privileges, only heightens public mistrust. Nigerians deserve full transparency on how their resources are being spent.
It is even more troubling that while politicians seek astronomical salary hikes, security officers and other essential public workers remain grossly underpaid and overworked. The government repeatedly ignores the welfare of police officers, teachers, and health workers. Redirecting resources to improve their conditions should be a far greater priority.
We therefore call on the RMAFC to immediately withdraw this ill-conceived proposal and instead channel efforts toward addressing the needs of ordinary Nigerians. Any government that ignores the plight of its people in favor of enriching a few risks losing the trust and confidence of the very citizens it claims to serve.
Signed,
Chief Peter Ameh
Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP)
