The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party and former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, has condemned the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal (RMAFC) proposal to increase the salaries of political officeholders by over 100 per cent.
Obi who criticised the move via a statement released on Wednesday on X, said that the increment shows the insensitivity and greed of political leaders.
He fumed that the RMAFC decision to prioritise the desires of politicians over the needs of the masses is not only provocative but scandalous.
Obi described the move as a “shameless grab for more” at the expense of Nigeria’s struggling majority.
He wrote, “The recent proposal by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission to increase the salaries of political leaders is causing widespread anger and bitterness among Nigerians, and we share the concerns of many Nigerians who question the necessity and timing of this proposal.
“Such thinking in the face of faster-eroding living standards of the people not only portrays the insensitivity of leaders but also exposes their greed.
“The RMAFC’s reckless haste in prioritising the greed of Politicians over the desperate needs of the masses is not only provocative but scandalous.
“It’s a shameless grab for more at the expense of Nigeria’s struggling majority!
“The proposed over 100% salary increase for political office holders is totally unjustifiable considering the economic realities facing our country.”
The former Anambra State Governor emphasised that political office should serve the nation, not be a means of accumulating wealth.
“We believe that political office is a service to the nation, and not a means to accumulate wealth.
“It is very disturbing that the RMAFC is prioritising the welfare of political office holders over that of security personnel, particularly police officers who are grossly underpaid and overworked,” he added.
Obi urged the government to focus on improving the living conditions of public workers, who are the country’s backbone.
