NNPP Slams Proposed Salary Hike for President, Ministers as ‘Insensitive to Nigerians’ Hardship’

The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has strongly rejected the proposed salary increase for the President, Vice President, ministers, and other political office holders, describing the move as “insensitive” and “ill-timed” amid widespread economic hardship.

In a statement issued Wednesday, the party’s South-West leader, Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, criticized the plan, reportedly being considered by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), as out of touch with the realities facing ordinary Nigerians.

“Millions of Nigerians are already struggling to survive amid soaring inflation and unemployment,” Ajadi said. “It is insensitive to increase political office holders’ salaries when workers are battling for a living wage. True leaders tighten their belts before asking citizens to make sacrifices.”

RMAFC Chairman, Mohammed Shehu, recently disclosed that the salaries of political office holders — last reviewed in 2008 — are outdated. According to Shehu, the President currently earns N1.5 million monthly, while ministers earn under N1 million.

Ajadi, however, argued that the focus should be on cutting the cost of governance, not expanding it. “This reeks of tone-deafness and greed. In other countries facing crisis, leaders cut their own pay to show solidarity with citizens,” he said, citing examples from New Zealand, Ireland, and Greece where top officials took salary cuts during economic downturns.

Calling for an immediate halt to the proposal, Ajadi urged the RMAFC to rethink its priorities. “The RMAFC must immediately abandon this self-serving scheme. What the nation requires today is fiscal discipline, not politicians feeding fat while citizens suffer,” he said.