Pay Rise: Labour warns RMAFC to halt exercise before it triggers crisis

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has cautioned the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) against proceeding with its planned review of salaries and allowances for political office holders, warning that such a move could trigger a nationwide crisis.

According to the labour body, millions of Nigerian workers are struggling under the burden of economic hardship, inflation, and rising costs of living, while wages have remained stagnant. The NLC argued that any upward review of salaries for elected politicians and political appointees, at a time when ordinary workers are demanding a living wage, would be viewed as an act of provocation.

Labour leaders stressed that the current priority should be implementing a fair minimum wage that reflects the country’s economic realities, not increasing the pay of public officials. They further called on the RMAFC to halt the exercise, warning that moving forward with it could worsen tensions between government and workers.

The Congress emphasized that public resources should be directed toward addressing poverty, insecurity, and infrastructure decay, rather than inflating the salaries of a small group of politicians. It urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene and ensure that equity and fairness remain the guiding principles in wage reforms.

The warning comes amid growing agitation across the country over the high cost of living, with labour unions insisting that the government must prioritise the welfare of workers and the poor before considering additional perks for political elites.

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