Obi Slams FG Over Proposed 100 per cent Pay Rise For Political Office Polders

Former governor of Anambra State and presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, during the 2023 election, Peter Gregory Obi, has criticised the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC, over its proposal to increase the salaries of political office holders by over 100 per cent.

Obi spoke through a post on his verified X handle, describing the move as unjustifiable and insensitive, especially at a time when millions of Nigerians were facing worsening economic hardship.

His words, “The proposed over 100% salary increase for political office holders is totally unjustifiable considering the economic realities facing our country.

“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.

“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!

“We believe that political office is a service to the nation, and not a means to accumulate wealth.

“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.

“We urge the government to redirect its focus towards improving the living conditions of public workers, who are the backbone of our country."

We call on the RMAFC to prioritise the welfare of Nigerians, particularly those in the public service, who have been neglected for far too long.

According to him, the decision reflects the greed of leaders and a reckless disregard for the suffering of the people.

He further noted that political office is a call to service and not an avenue for wealth accumulation, just as he expressed concern that the RMAFC was prioritising the welfare of politicians while neglecting public workers and security personnel, particularly police officers, who remain grossly underpaid and overworked.

Obi urged the government to channel resources towards improving the living conditions of Nigerians in the public service, whom he described as the true backbone of the country, rather than endorsing policies that benefit only the political elite.