The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Bola Tinubu to immediately stop the proposed salary increase for political and public office holders, describing it as “patently unlawful and unconstitutional.”
In a statement on Sunday, SERAP asked the President to direct the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to suspend the pay rise for the president, vice-president, governors, their deputies, and members of the National Assembly.
The organisation also called on Tinubu to personally reject the increment and persuade Vice President Kashim Shettima, governors, and lawmakers to do the same.
SERAP further urged the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), to enforce the judgment of Justice Chuka Austine Obiozor, which ordered RMAFC to review downward the salaries and allowances of lawmakers to reflect the country’s economic realities.
“The RMAFC’s constitutional and statutory mandates clearly do not imply unrestrained powers to increase the salaries of the president, vice-president, governors, their deputies, and lawmakers,” the group said.
It added that suspending the proposed pay rise would serve the public interest and uphold citizens’ fundamental rights at a time of economic hardship.
According to SERAP, instead of reducing the burden on Nigerians, the commission is “arbitrarily increasing the salaries of politicians while millions of citizens face worsening living conditions.”
