Opinion

Politicians’ Salary Review : A Misplaced Priority

Published

7 months ago

August 1, 2025

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 Mohammed Usman, argued that the current pay structure of these people is “inadequate, unrealistic, and outdated” given rising responsibilities and economic challenges.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

Opinion

Empowering Youth Through Agriculture

Published

4 days ago

February 9, 2026

The Tide

Quote:”While job seeking youths should continuously acquire skills and explore opportunities within their immediate environment as well as in the global space through the use of digital platforms, government, corporate/ multinational organizations or the organised private sector should generate skills and provide the enabling environment for skills acquisition, through adequate funding and resettlement packages that will provide sustainable economic life for beneficiaries”.

The Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, recently urged youths in the Rivers State to take advantage of the vast opportunities available to become employers of labour and contribute meaningfully to the growth and development of the State. Governor Fubara noted that global trends increasingly favour entrepreneurship and innovation, and said that youths in Rivers State must not be left behind in harnessing these opportunities. The Governor, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Benibo Anabraba, made this known while declaring open the 2026 Job Fair organised by the Rivers State Government in partnership with the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) in Port Harcourt. The Governor acknowledged the responsibility of government to create jobs for its teeming youth population but noted that it is unrealistic to absorb all job seekers into the civil service.
“As a government, we recognise our duty to provide employment opportunities for our teeming youths. However, we also understand that not all youths can be accommodated within the civil service. This underscores the need to encourage entrepreneurship across diverse sectors and to partner with other stakeholders, including the youths themselves, so they can transition from being job seekers to employers of labour,” he said. It is necessary to State that Governor Fubara has not only stated the obvious but was committed to drive youth entrepreneurship towards their self-reliance and the economic development of the State It is not news that developed economies of the world are skilled driven economies. The private sector also remains the highest employer of labour in private sector driven or capitalist economy though it is also the responsibility of government to create job opportunities for the teeming unemployed youth population in Nigeria which has the highest youth unemployed population in the subSahara Africa.
The lack of job opportunities, caused partly by the Federal Government’s apathy to job creation, the lack of adequate supervision of job opportunities economic programmes, lack of employable skills by many youths in the country have conspired to heighten the attendant challenges of unemployment. The challenges which include, “Japa” syndrome (travelling abroad for greener pastures), that characterises the labour market and poses threat to the nation’s critical sector, especially the health and medical sector; astronomical increase in the crime rate and a loss of interest in education. While job seeking youths should continuously acquire skills and explore opportunities within their immediate environment as well as in the global space through the use of digital platforms, government, corporate/ multinational organizations or the organised private sector should generate skills and provide the enabling environment for skills acquisition, through adequate funding and resettlement packages that will provide sustainable economic life for beneficiaries.
While commending the Rivers State Government led by the People First Governor, Sir Siminilayi Fubara for initiating “various training and capacity-building programmes in areas such as ICT and artificial intelligence, oil and gas, maritime, and the blue economy, among others”, it is note-worthy that the labour market is dynamic and shaped by industry-specific demands, technological advancements, management practices and other emerging factors. So another sector the Federal, State and Local Governments should encourage youths to explore and harness the abounding potentials, in my considered view, is Agriculture. Agriculture remains a veritable solution to hunger, inflation, and food Insecurity that ravages the country. No doubt, the Nigeria’s arable landmass is grossly under-utilised and under-exploited.
In recent times, Nigerians have voiced their concerns about the persistent challenges of hunger, inflation, and the general increase in prices of goods and commodities. These issues not only affect the livelihoods of individuals and families but also pose significant threats to food security and economic stability in the country. The United Nations estimated that more than 25 million people in Nigeria could face food insecurity this year—a 47% increase from the 17 million people already at risk of going hungry, mainly due to ongoing insecurity, protracted conflicts, and rising food prices. An estimated two million children under five are likely to be pushed into acute malnutrition. (Reliefweb ,2023). In response, Nigeria declared a state of emergency on food insecurity, recognizing the urgent need to tackle food shortages, stabilize rising prices, and protect farmers facing violence from armed groups. However, without addressing the insecurity challenges, farmers will continue to struggle to feed their families and boost food production.
In addition, parts of northwest and northeast Nigeria have experienced changes in rainfall patterns making less water available for crop production. These climate change events have resulted in droughts and land degradations; presenting challenges for local communities and leading to significant impact on food security. In light of these daunting challenges, it is imperative to address the intricate interplay between insecurity and agricultural productivity. Nigeria can work toward ensuring food security, reducing poverty, and fostering sustainable economic growth in its vital agricultural sector. In this article, I suggest solutions that could enhance agricultural production and ensure that every state scales its agricultural production to a level where it can cater to 60% of the population.
This is feasible and achievable if government at all levels are intentional driving the development of the agricultural sector which was the major economic mainstay of the Country before the crude oil was struck in commercial quantity and consequently became the nation’s monolithic revenue source. Government should revive the moribund Graduate Farmers Scheme and the Rivers State School-to-Land agricultural programmes to operate concurrently with other skills acquisition and development programmes. There should be a consideration for investment in mechanized farming and arable land allocation. State and local governments should play a pivotal role in promoting mechanized farming and providing arable land for farming in communities. Additionally, allocating arable land enables small holder farmers to expand their operations and contribute to food security at the grassroots level.
Nigeria can unlock the potential of its agricultural sector to address the pressing needs of its population and achieve sustainable development. Policymakers and stakeholders must heed Akande’s recommendations and take decisive action to ensure a food-secure future for all Nigerians.

By: Igbiki Benibo

Opinion

Of Protests And Need For Dialogue

Published

4 days ago

February 9, 2026

The Tide

Quote:“.Across Abuja, Anambra, and Lagos, a common thread emerges: a disconnect between authority and empathy. Government actions may follow policy logic, but citizens respond from lived experience, fear, and frustration. When these realities collide without dialogue, the streets become the arena of engagement”

It was a turbulent week in the country, highlighting the widening gap between government intentions and public perception. From Abuja to Anambra and Lagos, citizens poured into the streets not just over specific grievances but in frustration with governance that often appears heavy-handed, confrontational, or insufficiently humane. While authorities may genuinely act in the public interest, their methods sometimes aggravate tensions rather than resolve them.
In Abuja, the strike by workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) under the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC) brought the capital to a near standstill. Their demands included five months’ unpaid wages, hazard and rural allowances, promotion arrears, welfare packages, pension and National Housing Fund remittances, and training and career progression concerns. These are core labour issues that directly affect workers’ dignity and livelihoods. Efforts to dialogue with the FCT Minister reportedly failed. Even after a court ordered the strike to end, workers persisted, underscoring the depth of discontent. Threats and sanctions only hardened positions.
The FCT crisis shows that industrial peace cannot be enforced through coercion. Dialogue is not weakness; it is recognition that governance is about people. Meeting labour leaders, listening attentively, clarifying grey areas, and agreeing on timelines could restore trust. Honesty and negotiation are far more effective than threats.
In Anambra, protests by Onitsha Main Market traders followed the government’s closure of the market over continued observance of a Monday sit-at-home, linked to separatist agitation. Governor Chukwuma Soludo described compliance as economic sabotage, insisting Anambra cannot operate as a “four-day-a-week economy.” While the governor’s concern is understandable, threats to revoke ownership, seize, or demolish the market risk escalating tensions. Many traders comply out of fear, not ideology. Markets are social ecosystems of families, apprentices, and informal networks; heavy-handed enforcement may worsen resistance. A better approach combines persuasion, dialogue with market leaders, credible security assurances, and gradual confidence-building. Coordinated political engagement with federal authorities could also reduce regional tensions.
In Lagos, protests erupted over demolition of homes in low-income waterfront communities such as Makoko, Owode Onirin, and Oworonshoki. The state defended these actions as necessary for safety, environmental protection, and urban renewal. While objectives are legitimate, demolitions drew criticism for lack of notice, compensation, and humane resettlement. Urban development without regard for human consequences risks appearing elitist and anti-poor. Where demolitions are unavoidable, transparent engagement, fair compensation, and realistic relocation must precede action to maintain public trust and social stability.
Across Abuja, Anambra, and Lagos, a common thread emerges: a disconnect between authority and empathy. Government actions may follow policy logic, but citizens respond from lived experience, fear, and frustration. When these realities collide without dialogue, the streets become the arena of engagement.
Democracy cannot thrive on decrees, threats, or bulldozers alone. Leaders must listen as much as they command, persuade as much as they enforce. Minister Wike should see labour leaders as partners, Governor Soludo must balance firmness with sensitivity, and Lagos authorities should align urban renewal with compassion and justice. Protests are signals of communication failure. Dialogue, caution, and a human face in governance are not optional—they are necessities. Police and security agencies must respect peaceful protest as a constitutional right.

By: Calista Ezeaku

Opinion

Empowering Youth Through Agriculture

Published

2 weeks ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

“As a government, we recognise our duty to provide employment opportunities for our teeming youths. However, we also understand that not all youths can be accommodated within the civil service. This underscores the need to encourage entrepreneurship across diverse sectors and to partner with other stakeholders, including the youths themselves, so they can transition from being job seekers to employers of labour,” he said. It is necessary to State that Governor Fubara has not only stated the obvious but was committed to drive youth entrepreneurship towards their self-reliance and the economic development of the State It is not news that developed economies of the world are skilled driven economies. The private sector also remains the highest employer of labour in private sector driven or capitalist economy though it is also the responsibility of government to create job opportunities for the teeming unemployed youth population in Nigeria which has the highest youth unemployed population in the subSahara Africa.

The lack of job opportunities, caused partly by the Federal Government’s apathy to job creation, the lack of adequate supervision of job opportunities economic programmes, lack of employable skills by many youths in the country have conspired to heighten the attendant challenges of unemployment. The challenges which include, “Japa” syndrome (travelling abroad for greener pastures), that characterises the labour market and poses threat to the nation’s critical sector, especially the health and medical sector; astronomical increase in the crime rate and a loss of interest in education. While job seeking youths should continuously acquire skills and explore opportunities within their immediate environment as well as in the global space through the use of digital platforms, government, corporate/ multinational organizations or the organised private sector should generate skills and provide the enabling environment for skills acquisition, through adequate funding and resettlement packages that will provide sustainable economic life for beneficiaries.

While commending the Rivers State Government led by the People First Governor, Sir Siminilayi Fubara for initiating “various training and capacity-building programmes in areas such as ICT and artificial intelligence, oil and gas, maritime, and the blue economy, among others”, it is note-worthy that the labour market is dynamic and shaped by industry-specific demands, technological advancements, management practices and other emerging factors. So another sector the Federal, State and Local Governments should encourage youths to explore and harness the abounding potentials, in my considered view, is Agriculture. Agriculture remains a veritable solution to hunger, inflation, and food Insecurity that ravages the country. No doubt, the Nigeria’s arable landmass is grossly under-utilised and under-exploited.

In recent times, Nigerians have voiced their concerns about the persistent challenges of hunger, inflation, and the general increase in prices of goods and commodities. These issues not only affect the livelihoods of individuals and families but also pose significant threats to food security and economic stability in the country. The United Nations estimated that more than 25 million people in Nigeria could face food insecurity this year—a 47% increase from the 17 million people already at risk of going hungry, mainly due to ongoing insecurity, protracted conflicts, and rising food prices. An estimated two million children under five are likely to be pushed into acute malnutrition. (Reliefweb ,2023). In response, Nigeria declared a state of emergency on food insecurity, recognizing the urgent need to tackle food shortages, stabilize rising prices, and protect farmers facing violence from armed groups. However, without addressing the insecurity challenges, farmers will continue to struggle to feed their families and boost food production.

In addition, parts of northwest and northeast Nigeria have experienced changes in rainfall patterns making less water available for crop production. These climate change events have resulted in droughts and land degradations; presenting challenges for local communities and leading to significant impact on food security. In light of these daunting challenges, it is imperative to address the intricate interplay between insecurity and agricultural productivity. Nigeria can work toward ensuring food security, reducing poverty, and fostering sustainable economic growth in its vital agricultural sector. In this article, I suggest solutions that could enhance agricultural production and ensure that every state scales its agricultural production to a level where it can cater to 60% of the population.

This is feasible and achievable if government at all levels are intentional driving the development of the agricultural sector which was the major economic mainstay of the Country before the crude oil was struck in commercial quantity and consequently became the nation’s monolithic revenue source. Government should revive the moribund Graduate Farmers Scheme and the Rivers State School-to-Land agricultural programmes to operate concurrently with other skills acquisition and development programmes. There should be a consideration for investment in mechanized farming and arable land allocation. State and local governments should play a pivotal role in promoting mechanized farming and providing arable land for farming in communities. Additionally, allocating arable land enables small holder farmers to expand their operations and contribute to food security at the grassroots level.

Nigeria can unlock the potential of its agricultural sector to address the pressing needs of its population and achieve sustainable development. Policymakers and stakeholders must heed Akande’s recommendations and take decisive action to ensure a food-secure future for all Nigerians.

By: Igbiki Benibo