A widespread condemnation has emerged in Nigeria regarding a reported plan by the Bola Tinubu-led government, acting through the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), to substantially increase the salaries and allowances of political office holders. This move has been vehemently criticized by the Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN) and Abuja-based lawyer Pelumi Olajengbesi, who both describe it as a profound insult to millions of Nigerians grappling with severe economic hardship.

The Socialist Party of Nigeria, in a statement by its Acting National Chairperson Bamigboye Abiodun and National Secretary Chinedu Bosah, unequivocally condemned the proposed increase as “provocative, unjustifiable and a confirmation of the regime’s pro-capitalist character.” The SPN views this as a direct assault on the survival of citizens battling worsening poverty, mass unemployment, soaring inflation, and the devastating effects of fuel subsidy removal and naira devaluation. The party particularly scorned RMAFC’s justification that current political salaries are “inadequate, unrealistic and outdated,” calling it “an insult to the Nigerian working people” who subsist on a meagre ₦70,000 minimum wage—less than $50—while politicians live in “obscene luxury.”

Echoing these sentiments, Pelumi Olajengbesi, Managing Partner of Law Corridor, branded the proposed increment as the “peak of the government’s insensitivity” to the suffering populace. He highlighted the shameless exposure of the political class’s greed and selfishness amidst crushing poverty, noting that while citizens groan under unprecedented economic hardship, the ruling elite prioritizes its own enrichment. Olajengbesi specifically pointed out that the announcement is an affront to Nigerians enduring starvation since the May 2023 petrol subsidy removal, disrespecting middle-class families whose eating patterns have been severely curtailed.

Both critics detailed the current extravagant earnings of politicians. The SPN argued that rather than an increase, politicians' salaries should be drastically slashed to the level of civil servants, a measure that could free up vital resources for public education, healthcare, and other essential social services. Olajengbesi brought to light specific figures, recalling Senator Orji Kalu’s revelation of earning ₦14 million monthly, Senator Shehu Sani’s claim of ₦13 million, and current senators reportedly earning ₦21 million monthly. He also cited former Reps Speaker Yakubu Dogara’s disclosure of receiving ₦25 million monthly. Furthermore, beyond monthly emoluments, senators reportedly receive hundreds of millions annually for constituency projects, with some ranking senators allocated as much as ₦500 million in the 2024 budget.

The SPN accused the Tinubu government of perpetuating the anti-poor, pro-capitalist policies of its predecessors, prioritizing the capitalist elite’s greed over the welfare of the people. They warned that such a pay rise would not only deepen inequality but also intensify the desperate and fierce contestation for public office, a root cause of election violence and rigging in Nigeria. Olajengbesi similarly urged Nigerian political office holders to reject the proposed pay rise if they possess any sense of honour, drawing a parallel with Liberian President Joseph Boakai, who slashed his salary by 40% to demonstrate leadership and empathy.

In response to this perceived injustice, the SPN implored the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to mobilize workers and the poor for an immediate 24-hour warning general strike and nationwide protests. This action, they argue, would be the crucial first step towards defeating the pay rise plan, reversing petrol price hikes, and rolling back all other anti-poor policies of the current administration. The SPN further maintained that the struggle must extend beyond resisting current policies, advocating for the establishment of an independent mass workers’ political party rooted in socialist policies. They believe that only a socialist programme, ensuring democratic management and deployment of public resources for the majority's needs, can offer lasting solutions to Nigeria’s systemic crises of poverty, unemployment, inequality, and corruption.