Yemi Obafemi
Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has warned the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) against going ahead with its planned salary increase for political office holders, describing it as provocative and insensitive to Nigerians.
The RMAFC had argued that the current earnings of political office holders were inadequate, outdated, and unrealistic in light of their rising responsibilities and the economic pressures they face.
Falana, however, insisted that the priority should be alleviating the suffering of Nigerians, not expanding the pay of already well-remunerated public officials.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on Tuesday, Falana said the commission appeared to be out of touch with the realities facing ordinary Nigerians.
“It is insensitive therefore for any agency of government, particularly RMAFC, to suggest an upward review of the emoluments of public officers. I want to believe that the commission has not taken cognisance of the living standards in the country, particularly the harrowing experience of ordinary people,” he said.
The senior advocate noted that more than 133 million Nigerians are classified by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) as multidimensionally poor, stressing that this was not the right time for government officials to seek higher pay.
“This is not the time for public officers to justify increasing their stupendous salaries and allowances. I am very confident that RMAFC will have to review its position so that it does not further provoke the Nigerian people,” he warned.
