NLC Kicks Against Plans To Increase Tinubu, Others’ Salaries

By Akinwale Kasali

The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has kicked against the plans of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission to raise the salaries of President Bola Tinubu and other political office holders.

The RMAFC stated that the decision to review the salaries of the aforementioned is due to the fact that their current earnings are outdated and do not match the present economic realities.

RMAFC Chairman, Mohammed Shehu, made this disclosure at a Press Briefing in Abuja, when he revealed that President Tinubu currently receives about ₦1.5 million monthly while Ministers earn less than ₦1 million as basic salaries.

Shehu explained that these figures have remained unchanged since 2008, despite heavier workloads and inflation.

He further pointed out that the pay structure is unbalanced, saying that a Central Bank Governor or some Directors-General earn nearly ₦15 million monthly, which is about 10 times the President’s salary.

He added that certain Heads of Agencies take home around 20 times more than the Attorney-General of the Federation, whose pay is less than ₦1 million per month.

The Commission further explained that its Constitutional duty covers Political, Judicial, and Legislative Office holders, and not Civil Servants or Public Sector Workers.

Shehu stressed that the plan is to create fair and realistic salaries that reflect the responsibilities of public officials.

But in rejecting the plan, the NLC argued that it ignores the financial struggles of ordinary citizens and the hidden allowances enjoyed by politicians.

Labour leaders said that while the President’s official salary may appear modest, the full package, including medical, housing, travel, and security allowances, often pushes the actual cost to the public far higher.

The RMAFC however confirmed that it has begun a review of Nigeria’s revenue-sharing formula, which has been in place since 1992.

It added that the current structure allocates 52.68 per cent to the Federal Government, 26.72 per cent to states, and 20.60 per cent to local governments, with a further 4.18 per cent going to special funds.

Shehu said the review would take into account constitutional amendments, growing responsibilities of states, and the need to strengthen fiscal federalism.