The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has strongly condemned the plan by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to carry out an upward review of the salaries and allowances of political office holders across Nigeria.
According to a report by Mediaplusng.com, the NLC described the move as “insensitive, unjust and inequitable”, stressing that it will further deepen the gap between political leaders and ordinary Nigerians, especially civil servants who continue to face hardship.
In a statement issued on Sunday, August 24, 2025, NLC President, Joe Ajaero, said the plan is coming at a time when millions of Nigerians are multi-dimensionally poor, while civil servants remain under a salary freeze despite rising inflation and tariff hikes. He argued that making political office a sanctuary for wealth accumulation, instead of service, will fuel desperation and unhealthy competition for power.
Mediaplusng.com reports that the NLC also faulted the justification by the RMAFC Chairman, Mohammed Usman, describing his explanations as weak and insulting to Nigerians who already struggle under harsh economic realities. Ajaero noted that while the last civil service wage review was less than 50 percent, political office holders had enjoyed increments of over 800 percent.
The NLC further decried the inequality in pay structures, pointing out that while states operate different salary scales for civil servants, political office holders enjoy the same pay across the country. For example, a councillor in Yobe State earns the same as a councillor in Rivers State, despite the huge economic disparity.
While acknowledging the importance of fair remuneration, the NLC stressed that the process must be equitable and inclusive. The labour body likened the discriminatory system to a subtle form of apartheid, warning that it undermines the spirit of the constitution.
The Congress therefore made the following demands:
1. The current salaries and allowances of all political office holders should be made public.
2. The benchmark for the proposed review must be disclosed.
3. RMAFC should suspend the planned salary review to avoid a national crisis.
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