Former presidential candidate and Labour Party leader, Peter Obi, has strongly criticised the proposal by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to raise the salaries of political office holders by over 100 per cent.
In a statement posted late Wednesday on X, Obi described the move as “a shameless grab for more” and an act of greed that ignores the suffering of ordinary Nigerians.
“The proposed over 100% salary increase for political office holders is totally unjustifiable considering the economic realities facing our country,” Obi said. “Such thinking, in the face of worsening living standards, portrays not just insensitivity but outright greed.”
He argued that the RMAFC’s haste in prioritising the welfare of politicians over the needs of ordinary Nigerians and critical public servants was “provocative and scandalous.”
Obi stressed that political office should be regarded as service to the nation, not a channel for personal enrichment. He particularly lamented that security personnel and other public workers remain underpaid and overworked while leaders seek to enrich themselves further.
“It is very disturbing that the RMAFC is prioritising the welfare of political office holders over that of security personnel, particularly police officers who are grossly underpaid and overworked,” he added.
The former Anambra governor urged the federal government and the RMAFC to focus instead on improving the living conditions of public workers and neglected citizens who, he said, form the backbone of the nation.
About The Author
