Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, condemned the proposal by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to increase salaries of political office holders, describing it as “highly insensitive” and a reflection of misplaced priorities.
LagosExplorer reports that Falana argued the plan shows a disturbing disconnect between the political class and ordinary Nigerians who are battling severe economic hardship. He pointed to recent figures from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) which reveal that over 133 million Nigerians live in multidimensional poverty, insisting that at such a time, it is immoral for leaders to seek higher pay.
The Senior Advocate noted that citizens are grappling with rising inflation, food shortages, and declining living standards, while those in power are focused on improving their own welfare. “How can anyone justify a pay rise for politicians at a time when citizens are suffering? This shows a clear disconnect from reality,” Falana said.
According to Vanguard and PM News Nigeria, the RMAFC defended its proposal, with its chairman, Mohammed Shehu, explaining that the current salary scale for public officials has not been reviewed since 2008. Shehu noted that the president presently earns about ₦1.5 million monthly, while ministers take home less than ₦1 million, amounts he argued were lower than the salaries of many heads of federal agencies.
Despite this defence, Falana insisted that leadership requires sacrifice and accountability, not self-enrichment. He maintained that public resources should be directed towards improving the welfare of citizens rather than inflating the pay packets of politicians.