Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has faulted the proposed review of salaries for political office holders, describing it as “insensitive” in light of the country’s current economic realities.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo, on the other hand has called on President Bola Tinubu and the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to suspend the proposal, warning that such a move could trigger public unrest.
Falana, on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on Tuesday said, “I want to believe that the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has not taken cognisance of the living standards in the country, particularly the harrowing experience of ordinary people,”
“Majority of our people are suffering. Going by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), we have more than 133 million people that are multidimensionally poor.
“It is insensitive therefore for any agency of government, particularly RMAFC, to suggest an upward review of the emoluments of public officers,” he added.
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However, in a statement issued in Abakaliki by its Deputy President-General, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, the apex Igbo socio-cultural group reminded the federal government of the 2021 ruling of the Federal High Court, which mandated RMAFC to review and reduce lawmakers’ salaries in line with Nigeria’s economic realities.
“We call upon him to immediately suspend any proposed salary increases for political office holders, including the President, Vice President, Governors, Deputy Governors, and lawmakers. To ignore this urgent plea is to risk ensnaring his administration in the traps laid by adversaries, ultimately provoking the backlash and wrathful vengeance of an angry and oppressed populace,” Isiguzoro said.
He added that RMAFC had no constitutional or statutory authority to arbitrarily increase salaries, stressing that such actions represented a gross misuse of its mandate.
“The gravity of this situation cannot be overstated. The RMAFC has ignited a raging fire that, if not extinguished by the presidency, threatens to spiral into uncontrollable rebellion. The citizens of Nigeria are both hungry and angry; the federal government’s proposed pay rise for politicians, amidst a soaring cost of living, not only constitutes an affront but also serves as a breeding ground for chaos and anarchy,” he warned.
Isiguzoro urged Tinubu to comply with the court ruling by Justice Chuka Austine Obiozor, which demanded a downward review of lawmakers’ salaries. “The presidency must exemplify empathy and solidarity with the populace, demonstrating that they too are affected by the stringent economic policies that negatively impact the daily survival of Nigerians,” he said.
