The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has strongly opposed the proposed salary increases for political office holders, calling the move “an affront to the suffering Nigerian people.”
The proposal, made by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), would significantly increase the pay of top government officials, including the President, Vice President, governors and others.
In a statement released by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said that while the RMAFC has a constitutional mandate to periodically review salaries, doing so at a time of widespread economic hardship shows a lack of empathy and connection to the realities faced by most Nigerians.
“Millions of citizens are battling with rising food prices, high fuel costs, and an inadequate minimum wage. Proposing a salary hike for political leaders now is tone-deaf and deeply insensitive,” the statement read.
While the RMAFC chairman described the current salaries of political office holders as “inadequate, unrealistic, and outdated,” the ADC argued that these officials already enjoy extensive perks, allowances, and access to opaque discretionary funds benefits that far exceed the incomes of average Nigerians.
“If their salaries are truly inadequate, how then are they able to maintain such extravagant lifestyles?” the party questioned.
The ADC highlighted the disparity between the treatment of political elites and ordinary citizens, citing the national minimum wage of N70,000, which has been largely eroded by inflation and is often unpaid in many states.
“Unlike politicians, most Nigerians receive no allowances to cushion the rising cost of living. This makes the proposed salary increase not just unfair, but morally indefensible,” Abdullahi said.
The party demanded an immediate suspension of the plan, insisting that no salary review should proceed while the majority of Nigerians are struggling with economic hardship.
“Government has no moral right to demand sacrifice from citizens while shielding political elites from the consequences of poor economic policies,” the statement added.
The ADC urged the federal government to redirect its focus toward raising the minimum wage to a livable standard, ensuring prompt payment of civil servants’ salaries, and strengthening social welfare programs to support the most vulnerable populations.
“Rather than enriching those at the top, government policy should be aimed at improving the quality of life for everyday Nigerians,” the party concluded.
