Obi Condemns Salary Raise for Office Holders, Says Move Totally Unjustifiable

Labour Party leader and former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has criticized the move by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to increase the salaries of political office holders by more than 100 per cent.

In a statement issued via his official X account, Obi described the proposed adjustment as a “shameless grab for more” that disregards the harsh economic conditions ordinary Nigerians are facing.

Obi argued that the plan is “totally unjustifiable” and a reflection of the “greed and insensitivity” of the political class.

“The recent proposal by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission 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.

“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!

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

The former Anambra State Governor insisted that leadership should be anchored on service rather than self-enrichment.

“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,” he added.

Obi urged the government to shift its priorities towards improving the welfare of civil servants and security operatives, stressing that the groups remain the foundation of the nation’s workforce.

He also “called on the RMAFC to prioritise the welfare of Nigerians, particularly those in the public service, who have been neglected for far too long.”