The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission has announced plans to review the salaries of political office holders, describing current earnings as inadequate, unrealistic, and outdated.
At a press briefing in Abuja, RMAFC Chairman Mohammed Shehu revealed that President Bola Tinubu currently earns N1.5 million monthly, while ministers receive less than N1 million, figures that have remained unchanged since 2008.
Shehu argued these amounts are insufficient given the responsibilities of these offices and the nation’s economic challenges.
The commission’s chairman emphasised that the RMAFC is constitutionally mandated to determine the remuneration for political, judicial, and legislative office holders, distinct from setting a minimum wage for civil servants.
He stressed the need for realistic remuneration that reflects the significant responsibilities of these positions, noting that many agency heads earn substantially more than ministers or even the president.
However, the Nigeria Labour Congress has strongly opposed the proposed salary increase, arguing that it ignores the country’s worsening inequality and the substantial hidden perks that already inflate government earnings.
An NLC official noted that while the president’s official salary might be N1.5 million, additional allowances can push the total package beyond N100 million monthly. The union maintains that Nigerian workers continue to struggle with the high cost of living, making it difficult to survive on the current minimum wage.
Separately, Shehu announced that RMAFC has begun reviewing Nigeria’s vertical revenue-sharing formula, which hasn’t been updated since 1992. The current formula allocates 52.68% to the federal government, 26.72% to states, and 20.60% to local governments.
The commission aims to create a more equitable distribution that reflects contemporary economic realities and the expanded fiscal responsibilities of state governments.
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cc: Punch NG
