The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has called for the suspension of the proposed pay hike for political officeholders.
Ajaero, who spoke in a statement issued on Sunday, said the raise could trigger a tsunami by deepening the growing inequality between civil servants and political officeholders.
His comments come on the heels of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) disclosing that it was reviewing salaries that could lead to a significant pay increase for the president, vice-president, governors and other senior officials.
“We have listened with a growing apprehension to the justification for this ill-advised adventure by the Chairman of RMAFC, Mr Mohammed Usman.
“But we find it appropriate to warn that making public office a sanctuary for wealth-making (for literally doing nothing) instead of service and sacrifice will raise the stakes/desperation for the quest for public office with its intended and unintended consequences, including self-extinction,” Ajaero stated.
While faulting RMAFC’s justification, the NLC president called it “largely puerile”, adding that the explanation failed to justify the “humongous advantages” attached to such offices, elegantly couched as “perquisites, ways and means”, while the poor survive only on hopes.
“This is aside from other unwritten and unmentionable advantages that set them apart from the other disadvantaged citizenry.
“This exercise is coming at a time of promotion and salary freeze in most public subsectors and the continued imposition/operation of N70,000 minimum wage because there are no resources to pay higher in spite of insane tariff hikes.
“While we recognise the need for good remuneration packages, they should be across board and equitable and not done on the basis of discrimination as that runs contrary to the letter and spirit of our constitution.
“One of the most heinous crimes against humanity is the institution and promotion of apartheid in any human setting, no matter how subtle.
“RMAFC should put on hold this exercise before it triggers a tsunami,” Ajaero added.