The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has urged the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to put on hold its plan to review the remuneration packages of political office holders.
The NLC described the move as “insensitive, unjust, inequitable, and will only succeed in deepening the growing inequality between civil servants and political office holders.”
RMAFC chairman, Mohammed Shehu, had recently disclosed that President Bola Tinubu earns N1.5m monthly, while ministers get less than N1m, saying the figures have been like that since 2008.
He described the current salary structure as “wrong.”
The NLC is concerned that the proposed review would widen the gap between the rich and the poor, and deepen poverty among Nigerians.
The Union’s President, Joe Ajaero, in a statement on Sunday demanded that the current earnings of all political office holders and the benchmark for the proposed review be made public.
He said, ”This execise is coming at a time of promotion and salary freeze in most public subsectors and the continued imposition/operation of N70,000 mimimum wage because there are no resources to pay higher in spite of insane tariff hikes.
”We recall the last time a wage review (not minimum wage) was done for civil servants, it was not more than 50 percent. However, when that of political office holders was done a year or so later, it was in excess of 800 per cent.
”Whereas with civil servants, wage reviews or promotions are dependent on resource availability, with political office holders, this rule does not operate.”
He added, ”we equally note with dismay that whereas states operate different pay structures for civil servants, the pay structures of political office holders are the same across the country.
”This explains why a Councillor in Yobe State earns same salary as a Councillor in Rivers State.
”While we recognise the need for good remuneration packages, they should be across board and equitable and not done on the basis of discrimination as that runs contrary to the letter and spirit of our constitution.
”One of the most heinous crimes against humanity is the institution and promotion of apartheid in any human setting, no matter how subtle.
”Accordingly, we demand as follows: The current earnings of all political office holders should be made public.
”The benchmark for the proposed review should equally be made public.
”RMAFC should put on hold this exercise before it triggers a tsunami.”
