The recent announcement by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) that the federal government is considering an upward review of salaries for political officeholders including the President, Vice President, ministers, and Senators has generated widespread concern. For many Nigerians, this move is not simply a bureaucratic decision or a technical adjustment of figures. Instead, it represents a symbolic affront to millions of citizens who are already reeling under unprecedented economic hardship.
At a time when inflation is eating deep into household incomes, when the cost of fuel and basic goods has skyrocketed, and when youth unemployment remains dangerously high, the suggestion that public officials should be granted a salary increase sends the wrong message. It is a statement that the comfort of the few at the top is being prioritized over the survival and progress of the many.
This is not just about paychecks. It is about political priorities and the moral fabric of governance. When leaders insulate themselves from the economic realities that their citizens endure daily, they also shield themselves from the urgency of reform. A minister whose healthcare is state-funded cannot truly empathize with a mother forced to choose between purchasing medication for her child and buying food for her family. A senator whose salary towers over that of the average Nigerian worker cannot comprehend the suffocating pressure of stagnant wages in the face of rising prices.
The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) was established as a constitutional body with a clear mandate: to monitor the accruals and disbursements of revenue to all tiers of government and to review, from time to time, the remuneration of political officeholders. In theory, its role is to ensure fairness, transparency, and fiscal discipline in how public resources are shared and managed.
However, over the years, the RMAFC’s periodic recommendations have too often revolved around adjusting upward the benefits of those in power rather than setting an example of prudence and sacrifice. In an economy where the majority of citizens live below the poverty line, such actions suggest a troubling misalignment between institutional mandate and social responsibility. If the Commission truly seeks to be relevant to the people it serves, its priority should not be how to increase salaries for the political class, but how to cut costs, plug revenue leakages, and redirect resources toward nation-building initiatives.
The funds earmarked for raising political salaries could be deployed in ways that directly improve the lives of millions and build the foundation for a stronger, more resilient economy. Imagine the transformation that could take place if even a fraction of those resources were redirected.
They could strengthen rural healthcare, ensuring that mothers no longer have to walk kilometers in search of basic medical attention. Nigeria’s healthcare system, particularly at the primary level, remains grossly underfunded. Clinics lack essential drugs, equipment, and staff, leading to avoidable deaths. A targeted investment here would save lives and boost productivity.
They could fund education and skills training. Public schools and universities are perennially underfunded, while strikes disrupt academic calendars and leave students stranded. Redirecting funds into vocational and technical colleges would equip young people with practical skills needed in today’s economy; carpentry, welding, software development, renewable energy technologies, and more. These investments would reduce unemployment and position Nigeria to compete globally in innovation and entrepreneurship.
They could be used to strengthen agricultural extension programs. Agriculture remains the backbone of Nigeria’s economy, yet smallholder farmers the majority of producers are left without adequate support. With better access to improved seeds, fertilizers, and extension services, farmers could increase yields, reduce post-harvest losses, and contribute more effectively to national food security.
They could be invested in critical infrastructure. From dilapidated roads to broken bridges, poor infrastructure remains a barrier to commerce, investment, and safety. Nigeria loses countless lives annually to road accidents caused by bad roads. A redirection of funds here would not only save lives but also ease the cost of doing business and facilitate economic activity across regions.
They could also be directed toward tackling insecurity, one of the gravest challenges confronting Nigeria today. From insurgency in the Northeast to banditry and kidnappings across the Northwest and North-Central, insecurity continues to cripple productivity and instill fear in communities. Farmers are unable to access their farmlands, traders cannot move freely, and businesses suffer constant threats. Redirecting these funds into modern security infrastructure, better training and welfare for security forces, and community-based intelligence systems would not only restore safety but also unlock economic potential currently suppressed by fear and instability.
It is painfully contradictory that in a nation where universities shut down for months due to strikes and underfunding, the political class considers rewarding itself with higher pay. It is equally galling that in a country where bad roads kill more citizens than some diseases, policymakers debate allowances rather than solutions. This disconnect corrodes trust in institutions and widens the gap between citizens and the state.
The truth is simple: investing in the backbone of the country health, education, agriculture, infrastructure, and security is not an act of charity. It is an act of strategy. Strong human capital, efficient systems, and supportive environments for enterprise are the true engines of sustainable growth.
At the Institute for Free Market and Entrepreneurship (IFREME), West Africa, we believe firmly that Nigeria’s prosperity lies not in political indulgence but in empowering its people. Our mission is to champion free market principles, promote entrepreneurship, and advance policies that prioritize individual liberty and economic opportunity over elite privilege.
We advocate for a Nigeria where resources are not hoarded by a political few but distributed in ways that expand opportunity for the many. We promote policies that lower barriers to entrepreneurship, enabling young innovators and small business owners to thrive. We highlight the need for fiscal discipline in government and transparency in the allocation of public funds.
At IFREME, we argue that redirecting resources into sectors such as education, healthcare, technology, agriculture, and security is the surest path to unleashing the potential of millions of Nigerians. This is not just about fairness; it is about efficiency. When citizens are healthy, educated, and empowered to create, the entire economy grows. When small businesses are given the freedom to innovate and scale, jobs are created, and wealth circulates more broadly.
We also stress that leadership is not about privilege it is about responsibility. True leaders model sacrifice. They lead by example, showing that they are willing to share in the struggles of those they govern. By cutting unnecessary perks, rejecting wasteful allowances, and prioritizing national investment over personal gain, leaders can inspire trust and foster a culture of shared responsibility.
This debate cannot be left to political officeholders alone. Citizens must push back, raising their voices to demand accountability. Silence, after all, is easily exploited. If Nigerians refuse to accept misplaced priorities, if they insist that resources be channeled to areas of urgent need, the political class will be forced to rethink its actions.
The future of Nigeria will not be built in the plush offices of Abuja. It will be built in classrooms where students learn without fear of strikes or dilapidated facilities. It will be built on farmlands where farmers have access to tools, knowledge, and markets. It will be built in hospitals where lives are saved, not lost, due to lack of basic care. It will be built in technology hubs where young people code, innovate, and design solutions for the continent. It will be built in communities where people feel safe to live, work, and invest because insecurity has been confronted head-on. And it will be built in the daily hustle of millions of entrepreneurs who, against all odds, are driving this nation forward.
The proposal to increase salaries for political officeholders is more than just an administrative adjustment, it is a profound reflection of what kind of nation we are choosing to become. Do we want a country where scarce resources are drained into the salaries of a privileged few? Or do we want one where those resources are invested in the progress and prosperity of the many?
At IFREME West Africa, we are clear on where we stand. Nigeria’s future depends not on feeding the few, but on building opportunities for all. We will continue to advocate for free markets, entrepreneurship, and fiscal discipline as the pathway to real transformation.
This is not just a debate about salaries. It is a debate about values, about national priorities, and about the vision we hold for our future. The answer requires courage, courage from leaders to make sacrifices, and courage from citizens to demand better. Only then can we shift from budgeting for power to budgeting for progress.
Ezeahurukwe is a Mechatronics Engineering student FUTO and a Local Programs Lead at the Institute for Free Market and Entrepreneurship (IFREME) West Africa.
