NNPP Rejects Planned Pay Rise for President, Others

NNPP Rejects Planned Pay Rise for President, Others

  • The NNPP has rejected the move by the RMAFC to increase the salaries of the president, vice president and other political office holders
  • Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, the southwest leader of the NNPP, described the move as insensitive and ill-timed because of the economic challenges in the country
  • Ajadi explained that in countries facing economic challenges, such as Nigeria, the leaders take pay cuts, not increments

The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has rejected the proposed salary increments for political office holders, stating that such a move was ill-timed and insensitive, considering the current economic hardship in the country.

Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, the southwest leader of the party, criticised the plan by the federal government to increase the pay of the president, vice president, ministers and others, through the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) in a statement on Wednesday, August 20.

NNPP Chieftain Olufemi Ajadi, has rejected the move by the RMAFC to increase the salaries of the president, vice president and other political office holders.
NNPP rejects move increase president, vice president's salaries Photo Credit: @OlufemiAjadiO
Source: Twitter

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According to Ajadi, millions of Nigerians are facing survival challenges amid rising inflation and unemployment. He noted that periods like this, political leaders should be making sacrifices rather than demanding pay rises.

His statement reads in part:

“It is insensitive to increase political office holders’ salaries when workers are battling for a living wage. True leaders tighten their belts before asking citizens to make sacrifices.”

Why we're increasing president's, others' salaries - RMAFC

Earlier, Mohammed Shehu, the chairman of the RMAFC, said that the salaries of political office holders in the country were last reviewed in 2008 and were outdated. He cited that the president was receiving N1.5 million monthly and N1 million for ministers.

Shehu's statement reads in part:

"You pay either a CBN governor or the DG ten times more than you pay the President. That is just not right. Or you pay him [the head of an agency] twenty times higher than the Attorney-General of the Federation. That is absolutely not right.”

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NNPP Ogun governorship candidate in the 2023 election, Olufemi Ajadi, has condemned RMAFC's move to increase the salaries of political office holders amid hardship in the country.
NNPP rejects move to increase salaries of political office holders Photo Credit: @OlufemiAjadiO
Source: Twitter

NNPP calls for reduction in cost of governance

However, Ajadi explained that a reduction in the cost of governance at this time was more important than increasing it. He described the move as "reeks of tone-deafness and greed", stressing that in other countries where there is a crisis, "leaders cut their own pay to show solidarity with citizens.”

The NNPP chieftain cited the cases of Ireland, Zealand and Greece, where government officials agreed to have a cut in their pay in the face of national hardship. He called on Nigerian leaders to emulate similar action.

He called on the RMAFC to immediately "abandon this self-serving scheme." He further explained that Nigeria needs fiscal discipline at this moment, and "not politicians feeding fat", while citizens are suffering.

Ajadi reacts to Tinubu, Kwankwaso's meetings

Legit.ng earlier reported that the Ogun NNPP governorship candidate in the 2023 election, Olufemi Ajadi, reacted to the defection rumour of Rabiu Kwankwaso, the party's presidential candidate in the last election.

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Ajadi, in an interview with Legit.ng, explained that Kwankwaso has the right to make political decisions, but he would have to reassess the timing and reason if he were to join him.

The NNPP governorship candidate then disclosed what he would do should the leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement decide to join the APC and President Bola Tinubu's camp.

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Bada Yusuf avatar

Bada Yusuf (Politics and Current Affairs Editor) Yusuf Amoo Bada is an accomplished writer with over 5 years of experience in journalism and writing, he is also politics and current affairs editor with Legit.ng. He holds B.A in Literature from OAU, and Diploma in Mass Comm. He has obtained certificates in Google's Advance Digital Reporting, News Lab workshop. He previously worked as an Editor with OperaNews. Best Editor of the Year for Politics and Current Affairs Desk (2023) by Legit.ng. Contact: bada.yusuf.amoo@corp.legit.ng

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