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The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has announced plans to review the salaries of political office holders in Nigeria, citing outdated compensation structures and increased responsibilities in governance.

At a press briefing held in Abuja on Monday, August 18, RMAFC Chairman Mohammed Shehu disclosed that current earnings for top public officials—including the President—are “inadequate, outdated, and unrealistic”, especially when compared to the rising demands of their roles and the evolving economic climate.

“You are paying the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria N1.5 million a month, with a population of over 200 million people. Everybody believes that it is a joke,” Shehu said.

    •    President Tinubu: N1.5 million/month
    •    Federal Ministers: Less than N1 million/month
    •    Last salary adjustment: 2008
    •    CBN Governor & DGs: Reportedly earn 10x more than the President

Shehu argued that the imbalance in pay between executive office holders and heads of agencies like the Central Bank of Nigeria creates a disincentive for effective public service.

“You cannot pay a minister less than N1 million per month since 2008 and expect him to put in his best without necessarily being involved in some other things.”

He also stated that the RMAFC is constitutionally restricted to determining the remuneration of political, judicial, and legislative office holders, not civil servants or minimum wage earners.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) swiftly criticized the proposed salary review for politicians, highlighting growing inequality and the lavish allowances already available to elected officials.

“The President’s salary may be about N1.5 million a month, but when allowances are added, the total package can exceed N100 million,” an NLC official told Punch.

The union questioned the timing and priority of the salary review, especially amid economic hardship and stagnant wages for millions of Nigerians in the public and private sectors.