The Nigeria Political Science Association (NPSA) has called for the suspension of the plan to augment the remuneration of public office holders in the country.
The association which made its view known on the contentious issue weekend in a statement by its president, Prof Hassan Saliu called for the suspension of the planned salary increase for the public office holders.
“The proposition to augment the remuneration of public office holders in Nigeria, being championed by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), is a contentious issue, particularly in light of the prevailing economic challenges confronting the citizenry, derived essentially from the low level of productivity in the country, among other factors,” Saliu said.
He argued that while the inflationary trend and the elapsed period since the last salary review in the public sector carried out by the government in 2008 might justify a salary increase, the timing and national mood render the proposal incongruous.
He noted that the majority of Nigerian public workers are grappling with the meager minimum wage of N70, 000 while many are uncertain about their next meal.
He recommended that: “A more effective approach would be to extend the incremental salary increase already approved for judges to other professional groups, such as members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), whose new take-home pay has not been agreed to by the public owners of universities. The paltry remuneration of senior professors in public universities, who earn less than N600, 000 per month after deductions, underscores the low premium placed on education and learning in Nigeria.”
Saliu added that:” Furthermore, any discussion of salary increases for political office holders must consider the comprehensive reward regime, including allowances that often far exceed salaries. The basic pay of 1.5 million naira per month for one of the highest-paid public officers in the country may seem modest, but the state’s burden in supporting such an office extends beyond salary.