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Politicians’ Salary Review : A Misplaced Priority

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1 month ago

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Quote:” ...the clamour for salary increases for political office holders appears not just misplaced, but morally indefensible. The national minimum wage is a paltry ?70,000 per month—barely enough to sustain a modest family for a week.”
Few days ago, the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) hinted at plans to review the salaries of political, public, and judicial office holders in Nigeria. The Commission, which is constitutionally empowered to determine the remuneration of these categories of officials, through its chairman, Mr. Mohammed Usman, argued that the current pay structure of these people is “inadequate, unrealistic, and outdated” given rising responsibilities and economic challenges. While the Commission’s mandate is clear, the timing and reasoning for the salary raise are troubling. In the face of widespread poverty, mass unemployment, and an ever-widening gap between the ruling class and ordinary Nigerians, the proposition to review politicians’ salaries upward is not only insensitive but also counterproductive.
The country is currently battling a serious economic challenge.  Inflation continues to erode the value of incomes, with food inflation alone crossing record highs. Millions of households are struggling to afford basic necessities, and the poverty index shows that a significant percentage of the citizens live below the internationally recognised poverty line. The removal of fuel subsidies, rising energy tariffs, and a volatile foreign exchange regime have all conspired to make life unbearable for the average Nigerian. Against this backdrop, the clamour for salary increases for political office holders appears not just misplaced, but morally indefensible. The national minimum wage is a paltry ?70,000 per month—barely enough to sustain a modest family for a week.
Even more concerning is that several states remain unable or unwilling to pay this wage consistently, leaving workers in prolonged hardship, pensioners are owed arrears; teachers and health workers embark on strikes due to unpaid salaries. For about four month this year, primary school teachers in the six area councils of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, were on strike because the council chairmen failed to implement the N70,000 minimum wage. Yet, the political class enjoys allowances, estacodes, duty tours, and other hidden benefits that far outweigh their basic salaries.To describe the current remuneration of political office holders as “inadequate” is to ignore the mountain of privileges that accompany public office in Nigeria. These officials do not merely receive salaries; they benefit from a vast array of allowances—housing, transport, wardrobe, entertainment, and hardship allowances, among others.
 They are provided with official residences, security details, medical care abroad, and fleets of vehicles maintained at public expense. Lawmakers collect what has been controversially described as “constituency allowances,” while governors and ministers maintain access to opaque security votes running into billions. As an official of the Nigeria Labour Congress stated, the real problem is not the official salary figures but the allowances and perks of office that remain hidden from public view. “The President’s salary may be about N1.5m a month, but when allowances are added, the total package can exceed N100 million”, he disclosed. The truth, therefore, is that our political office holders do not suffer financial inadequacy. Instead, they live in conditions far removed from the everyday realities of the citizens they claim to serve. It is unsurprising that Nigeria consistently ranks among the countries with the highest cost of governance in the world.
 In 2020, the World Bank estimated that recurrent expenditure on salaries, allowances, and administrative costs accounted for more than 70 percent of Nigeria’s federal budget, leaving a fraction for capital development. At the heart of this debate lies the issue of social and economic inequality. Political leaders, who are already among the best remunerated in the country, seek to further widen the gap between themselves and ordinary workers. A federal legislator reportedly earns salaries and allowances that dwarf those of university professors, medical doctors, or senior civil servants, even though the latter groups provide essential services that sustain the economy and save lives daily. The contrast is even starker when compared with the minimum wage earner. A senator’s monthly earnings, by various estimates, amount to hundreds of times the monthly wage of a primary school teacher.
When political leaders call their pay “unrealistic,” they fail to recognise the indignity of subjecting workers to wages that cannot cover rent, food, transportation, and medical bills in a single month.This disparity breeds resentment and undermines trust in governance. It creates a political culture in which public office is not about service but about access to wealth. The constant struggle for political positions—often marred by violence and corruption—can be traced to the overcompensation of politicians relative to the economic reality of the nation. Some defenders of the proposed salary review have argued that political office holders worldwide are well-compensated, given the enormous responsibilities they bear. While this is true, such comparisons should be made within the context of each country’s economic realities. For instance, legislators in advanced democracies like the United States or the United Kingdom earn significant salaries, but these are proportionate to the average incomes of citizens and are backed by robust social welfare systems.
In contrast, Nigeria ranks among the countries with the highest pay for lawmakers, even though it struggles with high poverty levels, infrastructural decay, and weak public services. According to some reports, Nigerian legislators are among the top five best-paid in the world, even though Nigeria is not among the top 50 economies by per capita income. This contradiction underscores the need for moderation, not escalation, in political pay structures. What the country needs at this time is not an upward review of political salaries, but a comprehensive reduction in the cost of governance. The nation is heavily indebted, with debt servicing consuming over 90 percent of government revenue in recent years. The government should devise ways of plugging leakages and cutting waste and strengthening the Naira instead of embarking on salary increment for politicians.
The idea that politicians need more money to function effectively is simply untenable. Efficiency in governance is not a function of higher pay but of integrity, accountability, and commitment to service. Increasing political pay at this time will only further alienate leaders from the people and deepen the crisis of legitimacy that already plagues Nigeria’s political system. As a matter of fact, if there is to be any serious conversation about salary review in Nigeria, it should begin with workers who form the backbone of the economy. Nigerian workers should be paid a living wage that reflects the realities of today’s inflationary environment. Teachers, health workers, police officers, soldiers, and civil servants deserve better compensation, not just because of their critical roles but also because their current pay is grossly insufficient for survival.
Leadership, especially in a developing country like ours, demands sacrifice. The first duty of public office holders is to inspire confidence and trust among the citizenry. At a time when the citizens are asked to tighten their belts, leaders must demonstrate solidarity by tightening theirs even further.It would send a powerful message of empathy if the political class voluntarily subjected itself to pay cuts, reduced allowances, and streamlined privileges. Such a move would not only save resources but also signal to citizens that their leaders are willing to share in their struggles. Without this kind of solidarity, governance risks becoming an exclusive club of privilege, detached from the pain of ordinary people. The path to sustainable governance lies not in bloating the pay of politicians but in reducing the cost of governance, investing in infrastructure, improving public services, and ensuring that every worker earns a wage that can sustain a dignified life.
The RMAFC must therefore rethink its priorities. The Commission should heed the advice of the NLC, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and other well-meaning individuals and organisations and abandon any plans for upward salary reviews for political office holders and instead channel its influence towards achieving fair and just wages for the majority of Nigerians. We need no soothsayer to tell us that if RMAFC fails to listen to all wise counsel and goes ahead with its plan, it may trigger mass upheaval and industrial actions. The nation sure does not need this now.\
By: Calista Ezeaku
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Opinion

Balancing Religious Freedom and Community Rights

Published

3 weeks ago

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August 18, 2025

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Quote:”Communities have rights to peace, safety, and quality of life. Noise pollution, crowds, or other impacts from religious activities can affect these rights. Balancing these interests requires consideration and dialogue”.

Religious freedom, as a fundamental human right, encompasses the liberty to practise, express, and change one’s religion or belief without facing persecution, discrimination, or restriction. This right is recognized in various international human rights instruments. Article 18  of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) provides for the protection of the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion. Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) further elaborates on this right. From the afore-mentioned, individuals have the right to practise their religion or belief in worship, observance,  and teaching. This includes expressing one’s religion or belief through speech, writing, or other means of communication.They also have the right to change their religion or belief if they choose to do so.
While Religious freedom supports personal autonomy and the ability to make choices about one’s beliefs and practices, it also promotes diversity and coexistence among different religious and belief groups in a society. It  is a cornerstone of human rights, contributing to the protection of other rights and freedoms. Religious freedom became imperative to save  individuals who face persecution or discrimination for their religious beliefs or practices, check governments or communities who impose restrictions on religious expression or practice, citing various reasons like security, public order, or cultural preservation.
On the other hand, community rights refer to the rights of a community to protect their interests, culture, well-being, and other aspects that are significant to the community’s identity and functioning. These rights can encompass various dimensions including cultural preservation, economic interests, and social well-being. Communities often have rights to preserve their cultural heritage, traditions, languages, and practices. This can include protection of cultural sites, practices, and expressions. Communities may also have rights related to the management and benefit from natural resources within their territories or rights to economic development that aligns with their interests. Communities can as well ensure the social well-being of community members, including health, education, and safety. Beyond helping communities  preserve their identity and cohesion  by protecting aspects that are crucial to their way of life, support their determinations in making decisions about their own affairs, community rights can be particularly important for protecting against external pressures or exploitation.
In some climes, balancing religious freedom with community rights is a delicate task. Religious institutions play vital roles, but their activities can impact neighbors. Finding harmony between these interests is key to peaceful coexistence. Religious freedom is a fundamental right, allowing individuals and groups to practice their faith freely. However, this right isn’t absolute and must be balanced against other community rights and interests. Communities have rights to peace, safety, and quality of life. Noise pollution, crowds, or other impacts from religious activities can affect these rights. Balancing these interests requires consideration and dialogue. Noise from churches, mosques, temples, or other religious institutions can disturb neighbors. Managing noise levels is one way to balance religious expression with community peace. Many places have laws or guidelines governing noise, crowds, or other impacts from religious activities.
Understanding and complying with these frameworks can help balance interests.Dialogue between religious institutions and neighbors can prevent conflicts. By engaging with the community, religious groups can understand concerns and find mutually acceptable solutions. Religious institutions should consider impacts on neighboring properties. This includes noise, traffic, parking, and other factors affecting quality of life. In practice, balancing religious freedom and community rights requires flexibility and understanding from both sides. Religious groups can adopt practices to minimize impacts, while communities can understand the importance of religious expression. Some religious institutions successfully balance their activities with community needs through considerate scheduling, sound management, and community engagement. These examples show that balance is achievable.
Challenges arise when religious groups feel their freedom is restricted or when communities feel impacted by religious activities. Open communication can help address these challenges. Engaging with the community helps religious institutions understand local concerns. This engagement can lead to solutions that respect both religious freedom and community rights. Local authorities can facilitate balance by providing guidelines or mediating discussions between religious groups and neighbors. Their role is crucial in ensuring both sides are heard. Balancing religious freedom and community rights requires respect for diverse perspectives. Communities are made up of various groups with different needs and rights. Religious institutions can mitigate impacts through soundproofing, scheduling adjustments, or other measures. These steps can help minimize conflicts with neighbors.
Religious institutions often contribute positively to communities through charity, education, or social services. Recognizing these benefits can foster understanding.When conflicts arise, addressing them through dialogue is preferable to legal action. Mutual understanding can lead to solutions benefiting both sides.Educating both religious leaders and community members about the need for balance can prevent conflicts. Awareness of mutual rights and interests is key. Flexibility and compromise are essential in balancing religious freedom and community rights. Both sides may need to adjust to find harmony. By balancing religious freedom with community rights, communities can be more harmonious and inclusive. Respect for all interests leads to peaceful coexistence.
Above all, careful consideration of human rights principles, respect for diversity, and mechanisms for dialogue and mediation remain the hallmark of a harmonious community and religious institutions relationship
Revisiting Asuu’s Demand
Bright Amirize
Quote:” It should be remembered that ASUU warned Nigerians long ago about the antics and strategies of neocolonisation, especially what follows after a nation has experienced a civil war.
An understanding or agreement reached between the Federal Government of Nigeria and Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in 2009, which had not been fully implemented, accounts for current threats by the lecturers to go on strike . One of the vital issues of vexation is the proliferation of universities in Nigeria, both public and private ones, whose qualities are not quite of global standards.  It is obvious to those who care to know the details and implications, that there is a proliferation of universities in Nigeria, whose results can hardly produce salutary outcomes in the future. What we find is that Nigerians who had made enormous wealth usually invest in 5- star hotel business, private universities,    a airlines, or in oil and gas related plants outside Nigeria. Conditions for the establishment of a private university are quite capital intensive, yet applications are many for going into such a venture.
    The demand for university education is quite high among Nigerians, thus making the proliferation of such institutions inevitable. Even with such high growth rate of universities, Nigerians scramble to go to foreign universities to study, in spite of the high cost involved in such ventures. Foreign universities also embark on scrambles to get Nigerians to seek for admissions in their institutions, despite opposition to influx of foreigner in European countries. During the tenure of Margaret Thatcher as British Prime Minister, there were Policies and moves to merge or reduce the number of tertiary institutions, because of the high costs of running and maintaining them. It is natural that when an economy is robust and friendly, states and private entrepreneurs engage in the expansion of universities, as a means of expanding the economic boom is often followed by a recession which can arise from squandering of riches and resources. Moreover, nothing is stable in human affairs.
          Therefore, the process of rise and fall of nations, organization and individuals, is common as vital aspects persons are allowed to mess up the economy rather than restore it to a robust shape again. Sadof human experiences. What can be sad is a situation where quacks, impostors and incompetent ly what some nations do during economic downturn is to exploit other naïve and unsuspecting nations, using corrupt individuals to allow foreign interpreneurs to undermine national interests.   It should be remembered that ASUU warned Nigerians long ago about the antics and strategies of neocolonisation, especially what follows after a nation has experienced a civil war. Neither can it be denied that oil and gas resources in Nigeria were key factors in the turn of events in Nigeria since 1970. ASUU’s postures on national issues did not go down well with military regimes between 1970 and 1999. Yet ASUU spoke up!
 To describe Nigeria as a fantastically corrupt nation would not tell the whole story of what undermined Nigeria’s economy. Rather, foreign interests exploited loop-hopes and weaknesses in Nigeria’s institutions to undermine the nation’s economy. For example, countries that manufacture exotic cars, which their citizens rarely use, look for foreign buyers, especially countries that invest in flamboyant and profligate lifestyles. Who would not want to import 100 exotic cars and have 10 free, even with double the price of each car? Nigerians, especially private entrepreneurs and state officials, are known to be smart procurers and rent seekers. Even in the procurement of students for foreign universities, Nigerians are making fast business. Foreign universities student population is made up largely by students from developing countries, to the extent that fear of an influx of migrants is creating unrest in many European countries. Foreign students stay put rather than return to their countries after their studies. Rather they seek to bring in their spouses or relations.
 While we are busy establishing more universities, both public and private ones, developed countries are embarking on practical, direct-experience and on-the-job training strategies. Thus universities rarely have local students, but lure students from developing countries. With so much emphasis on book-oriented learning, and non-availability of jobs after graduation, university education becomes more of cosmetic adornment, where certificate talks.  Patriotic Nigerians, who would not shy away from the truth, recognize that our plight includes frivolous hankering for tinsel rather than real gold. Rather than embrace merit and standards of lasting values, we are satisfied with flamboyant braggarts who have money to throw about, even if it requires mortgaging our conscience. Even in the university environment where ideal man-power building should be a priority, what we find is a shameless and mad rush for things that glitter, so long as they give some temporary palliative..
   It is quite sad that the stock or tribe of patriotic lecturers in the university system is diminishing fast. If that sector of a nation’s institutions is allowed to mortgage the original “Ivory-Tower ethics” then a nation’s destiny would be in jeopardy. Noble minds are still everywhere in this country but we don’t look for, recognize or encourage them. Even when they are mobilized for service, some tend to join the band-wagon.   Proliferation of universities should stop and effort be made to foster practical skill acquisition and investment in research and development, so that what we buy abroad can be produced locally. Why must we spend billions of naira to import electric meters and transformers when professionals in that field can be given the task and challenge of developing such products? Nation building is more of character building, made possible by exemplary and inspiring leadership. The culture of 25% budget padding must stop!
 
By: Sylvia ThankGod-Amadi 
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Opinion

Kids Without Play Opportunities

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4 weeks ago

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August 11, 2025

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“All work and no play”, its said, “makes Jack a dull boy.” Despite this age-long maxim that recognises the role of play in early childhood development, play appears to be eluding many Nigerian kids. The deprivation of play opportunities comes in different forms for the Nigerian child depending on family’s social setting or status, but the effect is much the same. For children in Nigerian poor families, life is becoming as much a hassle as it is for their struggling parents. Due to harsh economic conditions, many families resort to engaging their kids prematurely in trading activities especially in hawking, to help boost family revenues, when these kids should be enjoying leisure after school. Some of these children barely attend schools while being forced to spend much of their childhood hustling in the streets. For children from well-off families, time could be as crunchy as it is for their busy parents when, obsessed with setting agenda for the future of their kids, parents arrange stringent educational regiment too early for their kids.
These group of children are made to get-off the bed by 5.30am every weekday, get ready for private school buses that call at 6.00am, otherwise report by however means to school at 7.20am.The situation is worse for kids in the city of Lagos where the need to beat urban traffic rush-hours is very high. Most children are further subjected to extra hours of lessons after school at 2.00pm, only to be released with loads of homework. On many occasions children who leave home for school at 6.30am get back by 3.30pm. With hardly enough time to eat, do school assignments and take afternoon naps, these children hardly had time for plays before dinners. In Nigeria, kids of ages between 3 and 12 spend averages of 9 hours a day and 45 hours a week to and from schools, and additional hours doing home assignments and domestic jobs, whereas their peers in developed countries spend about half that duration and have more time for leisure.
Any remaining spare time left after school work or street hustle is further stolen, when kids who usually are fascinated by gadgets, are exposed to household electronics like phones, tablets and gaming consoles. Electronic games may create a sense of leisure, but the difference with human interactions is that kids doing games interface mostly with machines or with programme structured in ways that entrap a child’s pysch directionally, according to the game’s programming, in ways that may not encourage independent thinking. Moreso, attraction to such gadgets displaces kids’ attention from important television and radio programmes. The prevalent tight, academic schedules for some Nigerian kids, though intended for academic excellence, encroaches on childhood leisure time needed to achieve an all-round childhood development, and could make children to resent formal education altogether. Besides, academic excellence or economic pursuit, is not all there is to living a well-nurtured life.
Children’s leisure time, defined as time left over after sleeping, eating, personal hygiene and attending school or day-care, is very crucial to childhood development. Sociologists recommend that children should have at least 40 per ceny of the day as leisure. According to Berry Brazelton, a former pediatrician at Harvard Medical School, “Play is the most powerful way a child explores the world and learns about him or herself.” Unstructured play encourages independent thinking and allows the young to negotiate their relationships with their peers, and in the process build self-confidence and self-control. Play is one of the important ways in which young children gain essential knowledge and skills. Leisure time enhances learning as fun enables children to learn at their own level and pace. Young children naturally explore and learn many skills by making cognitive connections from events that catch their attention.
Unstructured plays help children developed their cognitive, physical and communication skills that make them acquire social qualities necessary in navigating relationships in adult life. Plays enable children assess how others feel and learn perspectives as well as empathy through observing differences in facial expressions, body language and even tone of voice, which helps them copy how to express themselves to others, and therefore develop socially acceptable behavours that build relationships. In cooperative activities, children willingly take things in turn and may delegate roles. Children can also share the glory of winnings through competitive games, which is all great for working together in task sharing. Aside encouraging parents to ensure adequate leisure time for their kids at home, schools should make plays and exercises an integral part of the educational curriculum. The educational curriculum set by the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) includes specific training durations and break periods, as well as sporting activities, as part of the school system.
Due to poor government funding, sports in public schools have declined, while most private schools lack sporting infrastructure or even play grounds. These make recreational activities and sports implementation almost impossible in schools. Also, the increasing rate of urbanisation in Nigerian communities is gradually eroding ancient playgrounds, while established urban centres have lost community playgrounds. With tightening apartment spaces now being the norm in most urban residential areas, many kids are forced to wriggle within burglary-proof enclosures. Nigerian governments and the relevant agencies should ensure that existing child labour protection laws, educational and urban development codes are implemented in the country, to enable proper nurturing of children as the future stakeholders of our society. Private schools, especially, should be supervised to ensure they follow the educational curriculum standards set by NERDC.
In a bid to impress parents and draw more patronage as better option than public schools, private schools, most of whom operate in cramped environments, have continued to set high regiments of training schedules beyond the capacity of most kids, and even encourage enrollment of pre-school age kids who can not sit still to listen for an extended periods of time. Schools, from creche to secondary levels, without playgrounds and recreational facilities should not be allowed to operate, and should be made to understand and implement appropriate curriculum and training durations. Many Nigerian kids, whether from rich or poor families, appear to have been set-up inadvertently, in the same leisure denial that affects their parents. All work and no play could lead to some messed-up kids who grow up not understanding social cues, and being unemotional and self-centered, manifest later as obsessive-compulsive adults.

By: Joseph Nwankwo

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Opinion

Congratulations Fubara, Joseph Of Rivers State

Published

4 weeks ago

on

August 11, 2025

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We thank God who is above all human contrivance and arrogance. Congratulations, Your Excellency Amaopusenibo Sir Siminalayi Joseph Fubara. Your victory takes us back to the Bible as a living document of a God that rules in the affairs of all His creation. In a manner of speaking, welcome back from your first war with Phillistines, Your Excellency! Yes, first example is David and Goliath! And like David, Your Excellency  stands over Goliath in victory. But that is not enough. Our real enemy is that Your Excellency is Governor of a State with a wretched economy. Indigenes of Your State are today reduced to battalions of beggars waiting for who will hire their loyalty on the usual “pay-as-you-go” basis.
Your Excellency,  it brings us to another Bible- based parallel. Conscientious Rivers indigenes above 50, should identify with and commit our all to this second parallel. It is to liberate the economy and people of Rivers people from 23 years enslavement and poverty, for us to regain our dignity and pride. When the economy of Egypt was drifting into a disaster zone, even Pharaoh did not know it. He also did not know what to do. But God sent a Joseph to build the economy into a fortress of good fortune that overcame the economic and social disaster Egypt did not know was ahead. Your Excellency for 23 years, Rivers State has been ruled without any logical, credible and consistent PLAN of how to overcome mass poverty from our dehydrated local economies.
Your Excellency, Rivers State cannot survive one month without Federal allocation! So called IGR only about 10 per cent of Federal allocation.It is also not based on what we produce but on tax from other people’s productivity that pass through our State.  Pharaoh did not know what to do in the case of Egypt. May it please God to position another Joseph in Governor Siminalayi Joseph Fubara to heal Rivers State and build an economy that all Africa will come to access in order to chart a new course out of worsening economic hardship that is caused by  near zero investment in productivity and endemic reckless looting. They are the twin chambers nursing a  corporate cancer unfolding across Nigeria and Africa. The hard work begins today, Your Excellency.
We need an economic blueprint that will enrich  every Rivers senatorial district from investment to grow productivity and to enrich every Rivers person from career-based productive labour, just as Pharaoh was enriched by Joseph’s economic Blueprint. Let Rivers State stop the trend of waiting the lives of young Rivers people recruited by Phillistines into cultism, thuggery and easy money, as a career. These Phillistines believe they have only lost one phase of many legal battles and battles by other means. But from comments in the public media, their eyes are fixed on  4-years of war and more! Your Excellency, we the people will not let you forget what you owe us. We have to make unbelievers see that your leadership is different and that we are uprooting the old order of an unproductive Feudal System. That system makes a few persons and their cronies to monopolise our collective wealth, while the majority are left in misery. Let’s put an end to enslavement by cabals and mass poverty in Rivers State. That is when the Phillistines will surrender.

By: Amaopusenibo  Brown

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