The Nigeria Labour Congress has expressed concern over the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission’s proposed salary increase for political office holders.

The NLC President, Joe Ajaero, who described the plan as insensitive and inequitable, said this in a statement to journalists on Sunday in Abuja.

The RMAFC recently commenced upward review of the remuneration of President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima and other political office holders in the country.

Mr Ajaero described the move as” insensitive, unjust, inequitable and will only succeed in deepening the growing inequality between civil servants and political office holders.

“It will equally deepen poverty among the generality of Nigerians majority of whom have not only been adjudged to be multidimensionally poor but live miserably poor.’’

He, however, described the justification by the commission as weak.

Mr Ajaero said that the justification ignored the huge perks and advantages political office holders already enjoy.

The NLC president said that this was aside from other unwritten and unmentionable advantages that set them apart from the other disadvantaged citizenry.

He stated, “This exercise is coming at a time of promotion and salary freeze in most public subsectors and the continued imposition and operation of N70,000 minimum wage. This is because there are no resources to pay higher in spite of the rising tariffs and economic hardship.’’

Mr Ajaero recalled previous wage reviews, civil servants received less than 50 per cent, while political office holders enjoyed increases exceeding 800 per cent.

According to him, the NLC equally noted with dismay that whereas states operate different pay structures for civil servants, the pay structures of political office holders are the same across the country.

He stated, “This explains why a councillor in Yobe State earns the same salary as a councillor in Rivers State. While we recognise the need for good remuneration packages, they should be across board and equitable and not done on the basis of discrimination.’’

He added that the situation runs contrary to the letter and spirit of the nation’s constitution

He, therefore, demanded that the current earnings of political office holders should be made public.

The president said that the benchmark for the proposed review should equally be made public.

He called on RMAFC to put on hold the exercise before it triggers a tsunami in the country.

(NAN)