The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has sharply criticized the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) over its proposed plan to increase the salaries of political office holders, including the President, Vice President, Senate President, governors, and other top officials.

In a statement signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC described the move as “insensitive, tone-deaf, and an affront to suffering Nigerians.”

Abdullahi acknowledged that the RMAFC has a constitutional mandate to periodically review salaries and allowances of public office holders but insisted that doing so at this critical period only highlights how disconnected the government has become from the reality of ordinary citizens.

According to him, millions of Nigerians are currently grappling with unbearable food inflation, skyrocketing fuel prices, and a minimum wage of ₦70,000, which has been eroded by the harsh economic climate. Unlike political elites, Abdullahi noted, average Nigerians do not enjoy additional allowances or perks to cushion the rising cost of living.

“How else are these office holders able to sustain their lifestyles of luxury and opulence if indeed their salaries are ‘inadequate’ as claimed? The truth is that their emoluments are already heavily padded with opaque allowances and discretionary funds far beyond what the ordinary Nigerian earns,” Abdullahi said.

The ADC warned that approving the pay rise would send a dangerous signal that the government is more interested in enriching political elites than addressing the plight of its citizens.

“No such increase should be considered while ordinary Nigerians are pushed to the brink of extreme hardship. Government has no moral right to demand sacrifices from the people while shielding political office holders from the harsh realities of inflation,” the statement added.

The party urged the federal government to suspend the plan immediately and instead prioritize measures that would improve the lives of citizens. These, according to the ADC, include raising the minimum wage to a living standard, ensuring timely and fair salaries for civil servants, and strengthening social welfare programs to protect vulnerable Nigerians.