By Peter Omopo
Former presidential candidate and Labour Party leader, Peter Obi, has strongly criticised the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) over its proposal to increase the salaries of political office holders by more than 100 per cent.
In a statement posted on X late Wednesday, Obi described the move as a “shameless grab for more” at the expense of ordinary Nigerians grappling with worsening economic conditions.
“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,” Obi said. “Such thinking in the face of faster-eroding living standards not only portrays the insensitivity of leaders but also exposes their greed.”
He faulted the RMAFC for prioritising the welfare of politicians over the needs of citizens, saying the timing of the proposal was both provocative and scandalous.
“The proposed over 100% salary increase for political office holders is totally unjustifiable considering the economic realities facing our country,” Obi stressed, adding that political office should be about service and not personal enrichment.
Obi also lamented that critical sectors such as security have been neglected. “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 said.
The former Anambra State governor urged the government to channel resources into improving the welfare of public servants and workers, whom he described as the backbone of the nation.
He further called on the RMAFC to “prioritise the welfare of Nigerians, particularly those in the public service, who have been neglected for far too long.”
