Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 presidential elections, Peter Obi has reacted to reports of an alleged 114% increase in the salaries of the President, Vice president, senators and lawmakers.
On Tuesday, June 20, Rakiya Tanko-Ayuba, a Federal Commissioner who represented Chairman of the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC, Muhammad Shehu, at the presentation of the reports of the reviewed remuneration package to Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, in Birnin Kebbi, had reportedly said that the salaries of politicians, judicial and public office holders would be increased by 114 per cent.
However the RMAFC Public Relations Officer, Christian Nwachukwu, denied the reports saying President Bola Tinubu has not given approval for the increment of salaries of public servants.
Obi on Thursday morning, June 22 reacted to the development via his Twitter handle, saying such a move was insensitive at this time and should be reversed.
“I learnt with great reservation, the approval of a 114% increase in the salaries of elected politicians, including the President, vice president, governors, lawmakers as well as judicial and public office holders by the Revenue Mobilisation,Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC). This is not the appropriate time for such salary increment if it is at all necessary. We are living in a time when an average Nigerian is struggling with many harsh economic realities,and with over 130 million Nigerians now living in poverty. This is a moment when recent reform measures by the government have increased living costs astronomically.
One would expect the leaders and public officeholders to focus on cutting the cost of governance, alleviating the sufferings of Nigerians. This moment calls for creative ways of pulling the majority out of poverty.
In the immortal words of Shakespeare’s Julius Ceaser, “What touches us ourself shall be last served.” The leaders, therefore, should prioritize what affects the masses and those on the lower strata of society over themselves.
The sacrifice, at this time in our nation, should be borne by the leaders. The increment should be reversed immediately, and the savings should be devoted to fixing education, healthcare and poverty alleviation especially in the remote rural areas. – PO