ADC Slams RMAFC’s Salary Review Plan —Nigerians Need Better Wages, Not Politicians

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has strongly rejected the proposed salary increase for Nigeria’s political office holders, describing it as insensitive and disconnected from the harsh realities faced by millions of citizens.

The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) had recently announced a plan to review the emoluments of top political leaders, including the President, Vice President, governors, and lawmakers. According to RMAFC Chairman, the review was necessary because the current pay structure was “inadequate, unrealistic, and outdated.”

However, the ADC, through its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, faulted the timing and rationale behind the proposal. The party argued that at a period when inflation, fuel costs, and food prices continue to soar, approving salary hikes for political elites would amount to mocking the Nigerian people who are already struggling to survive.

ADC Says Move Shows Government’s Disconnect

The ADC insisted that the proposal underscores how disconnected Nigeria’s leadership has become from the plight of ordinary citizens. Abdullahi stressed that while politicians enjoy a wide array of allowances and privileges, average Nigerians are left to endure economic hardships with little or no cushioning.

He pointed out that political office holders live in luxury, often funded by opaque allowances and perks, which already place them far above the earnings of the working population. “How else are they able to maintain their lavish lifestyles if not through these allowances?” Abdullahi queried.

The party described the move as “tone-deaf and morally indefensible,” insisting that political leaders must not shield themselves from economic realities while demanding sacrifices from citizens. According to the ADC, the government cannot claim to be addressing poverty and hardship while simultaneously prioritizing the welfare of politicians.

Minimum Wage Erosion and Citizens’ Struggles

Highlighting the plight of workers, the ADC drew attention to the inadequacy of Nigeria’s N70,000 minimum wage, which it noted has been severely eroded by inflation and, in some states, remains unpaid. Unlike public office holders, workers and civil servants have no access to allowances or benefits to cushion rising costs of living.

The party argued that many Nigerian families now struggle to afford basic necessities such as food, healthcare, and education, while political leaders continue to enjoy extravagant privileges. “This contradiction is an affront to the Nigerian people,” Abdullahi declared, urging the government to address wage disparities instead of compounding public anger.

The ADC further noted that the wage crisis, coupled with job insecurity, has left millions impoverished. The party emphasized that raising salaries for politicians while neglecting civil servants and the unemployed would widen inequality and deepen mistrust in government.

ADC Calls for Immediate Suspension of Proposal

In its statement, the ADC demanded an immediate suspension of the RMAFC salary review plan. The party maintained that no salary increment should be considered for public officials until the government demonstrates a genuine commitment to alleviating citizens’ economic struggles.

The ADC urged the government to redirect its focus toward policies that improve living conditions for Nigerians, including raising the minimum wage to a sustainable level, ensuring prompt payment of salaries, and expanding social welfare schemes for vulnerable groups.

“Government has no moral right to demand sacrifices from Nigerians while insulating itself from the hardship everyone else is enduring,” Abdullahi said. He warned that implementing the proposed salary review would further erode trust between the government and citizens.

Focus Should Be on Citizens, Not Politicians

The ADC concluded by urging the government to prioritize the needs of ordinary Nigerians above the comfort of political elites. According to the party, policies at this critical time must be directed toward job creation, poverty alleviation, and providing relief to households battling the rising cost of living.

The party reiterated that politicians are already overcompensated and enjoy numerous benefits that separate them from the realities of the average Nigerian. “What the people need is a pay rise, not the politicians,” Abdullahi stressed, adding that public service should be about sacrifice and patriotism, not personal enrichment.

By challenging the proposal, the ADC joins a growing number of voices opposing any attempt to increase the salaries of political office holders while the country grapples with economic hardship.