Obi condemns new wages for Tinubu, Shettima, Akpabio, Abbas, others
By PHC Telegraph
President Bola Tinubu target of public criticism over new plan to raise the salaries and emoluments of political office holders
Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi has lampooned moves by the Revenue Mobilisation Commission to embark on an upward review of salaries and emoluments of serving political officers in the country.
The Commission, out of the blue, came out with a new proposal adjusting the salary of elected officials.
Also listed among those to benefit from the new payment structure are judicial officers who are now to spend at least 75 years in service.
This decision to raise salaries and other emoluments is coming against the backdrop of the removal of petroleum subsidy, a bold step that has exposed most Nigerians to excruciating pain.
A litre of PMS which sold for about N195 prior to this time sells at approximately N500 per litre.
Accordingly, transport fares and the price of foodstuff and other supplies have shot out of the window.
On television, radio channels and the social media, Nigerians Thursday came down hard on the review of salaries propised by the Revenue Mobilisation Commission.
Auwal Rafinjani, an activist said on Arise Television Thursday that the action is consistent with the unbridled attitude as well as the insensitive behaviour of those who govern the country.
He said the interest of the poor and the downtrodden in Nigeria has never mattered to the elite and the ruling class whose poor handling of rulership is responsible for the plight of the common man on the street.
The Commission on the other hand defended its position through a spokesman, saying such reviews are periodic and also acceptable under existing regulations governing its operations.
But Obi who is at the presidential tribunal where he is struggling very hard to upturn Tinubu’s electoral victory said it was painful to learn that while Nigerians are going through stress, the take home of elected officials is to be raised by about 114%.
“I learnt with great reservation, the approval of a 114% increase in the salaries of elected politicians, including the President, vice president, governors, lawmakers as well as judicial and public office holders by the Revenue Mobilisation,
Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).
“This is not the appropriate time for such salary increment if it is at all necessary. We are living in a time when an average Nigerian is struggling with many harsh economic realities, and with over 130 million Nigerians now living in poverty.
Charly Boy whose real name is Charles Oputa and Peter Obi, two sworn opponents of the Tinubu administration.
“This is a moment when recent reform measures by the government have increased living costs astronomically”, Obi said on Twitter.
The presidential candidate argued that the situation in the country demands a decision by the ruling class to embark on cost saving measures.
He said it was necessary to alleviate the pain suffered by the lower class who continue to bear the brunt of the misadventure of the country’s leadership.
“One would expect the leaders and public officeholders to focus on cutting the cost of governance, alleviating the sufferings of Nigerians. This moment calls for creative ways of pulling the majority out of poverty.
“The leaders, therefore, should prioritize what affects the masses and those on the lower strata of society over themselves.
“The sacrifice, at this time in our nation, should be borne by the leaders. The increment should be reversed immediately, and the savings should be devoted to fixing education, healthcare and poverty alleviation especially in the remote rural areas.”
In the meantime, Nigerians await the reaction of the President. Tinubu is out of the country on his first official outing.
Currently in France where a summit is taking place, the president is shopping for investment opportunities.