Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has condemned the proposal by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to raise the salaries of political officeholders by more than 100%.
In a statement released on X, Obi said the plan was an insult to ordinary Nigerians struggling under rising inflation and unemployment.
“Such thinking in the face of faster-eroding living standards of the people not only portrays the insensitivity of leaders but also exposes their greed,” he wrote.
He warned that even the floating of the idea had already stirred widespread anger across the country.
“The RMAFC’s reckless haste in prioritising the greed of politicians over the desperate needs of the masses is not only provocative but scandalous. It’s a shameless grab for more at the expense of Nigeria’s struggling majority!”
Nigerians Struggle as Leaders Demand More
Obi argued that there was no justification for the proposed increase, given Nigeria’s battered economy. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported in July that inflation stood at 34.2%, the highest in decades.
“The proposed over 100% salary increase for political office holders is totally unjustifiable considering the economic realities facing our country,” he said.
The former Anambra governor said political leaders must place service over self. “We believe that political office is a service to the nation, and not a means to accumulate wealth,” he declared.
Obi also pointed to the poor state of public service workers, especially security officers. “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 said.
Call for Fairness in Public Service
Obi urged the government to focus instead on public workers—the teachers, nurses, and police officers who keep the country going. He noted that many of them earn less than ₦70,000 a month, barely enough to survive in today’s economy.
“The recent proposal by the RMAFC to increase the salaries of political leaders is causing widespread anger and bitterness among Nigerians, and we share the concerns of many Nigerians who question the necessity and timing of this proposal,” he stressed.
For many, Obi’s comments reflect a wider frustration: why should politicians enjoy pay rises when millions cannot afford food, fuel, or rent?
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