The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has strongly condemned the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) over its plan to review and increase the salaries of political office holders, describing the move as unjust, insensitive, and dangerous in the face of rising hardship across the country.

RMAFC chairman, Mohammed Shehu, recently revealed that President Bola Tinubu earns ₦1.5 million monthly, while ministers receive less than ₦1 million. He argued that these figures have remained unchanged since 2008, insisting that a review was long overdue.

But NLC President, Joe Ajaero, rejected the proposal in its entirety, warning that such a move would worsen Nigeria’s growing inequality crisis.

“The move is insensitive, unjust, and inequitable and will only succeed in deepening the growing inequality between civil servants and political office holders. It will equally deepen poverty among the generality of Nigerians, the majority of whom have been adjudged to be multi-dimensionally poor, living miserably poor,” Ajaero said.

The labour leader demanded full disclosure of both the current earnings of political office holders and the benchmark for the proposed review, insisting that Nigerians deserve transparency. He warned that implementing the plan could provoke widespread outrage.

“RMAFC should put on hold this exercise before it triggers a tsunami,” Ajaero cautioned.

He argued that political office in Nigeria has become a hub for personal enrichment rather than public service, stressing that politicians already enjoy numerous allowances, perks, and “unmentionable” benefits that separate them from ordinary citizens.

Recalling past wage reviews, Ajaero noted that when workers last received a pay increase, it was less than 50 percent, while political office holders secured increments of over 800 percent a year later. He also highlighted the imbalance where civil servants’ pay varies across states, but politicians earn uniform salaries nationwide.

The NLC accused the government of fueling “economic apartheid” by prioritizing politicians over workers, warning that the exercise could heighten public anger and further erode trust in leadership.

Ajaero insisted that if the government is sincere about tackling poverty and inequality, fair wage adjustments must include all categories of workers, not just politicians.