By Luminous Jannamike

Nigerian civil society organisations (CSOs) have expressed strong opposition to the announcement made by Muhammad Shehu, Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), regarding a 114% salary increase for politicians, judicial, and public office holders.

They raised concerns over the country’s economic stability and social inequality, with the proposed salary increase potentially exacerbating existing issues.

Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, the Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and Head of Transparency International (Nigeria), described the increase as “unjustifiable” in an exclusive interview with Vanguard.

“They are already being overpaid. The country’s resources cannot sustain the salary increases,” Musa said.

He added that the move was unfair to other workers and professionals who contribute significantly to Nigeria’s development, such as teachers, doctors, engineers, and lawyers.

Musa also warned that the salary increase would further widen inequality and disparity among Nigerians, as well as increase political violence.

“Politicians will turn elections into a do-or-die affair,” he stated, highlighting the stance of CISLAC and Transparency International on the issue.

In another exclusive interview with Vanguard, Dr. Zikirullahi Ibrahim, Executive Director of the Resource Centre for Human Rights & Civic Education (CHRICED), criticized the current administration’s decision.

“If the current government was acting in good faith, its primary concern would be how to lift over 133 million Nigerians out of multidimensional poverty,” Dr. Ibrahim said.

He also suggested that the salary increase could be seen as a “surreptitious bribe” to judges, considering the administration’s legitimacy is being questioned and contested in court.

Dr. Ibrahim further argued that the 114% salary increase would only serve to make the rich richer, increase inflation, and widen economic inequality.