In a bold move, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has issued a seven-day ultimatum to President Bola Tinubu, demanding the immediate suspension of a controversial proposal to increase the salaries of top political office holders. This includes the President himself, the Vice-President, Governors, their deputies, and members of the National Assembly.
SERAP’s forceful stance, articulated in a letter dated August 23, 2025, contends that the proposed pay raise is not only unlawful and unconstitutional but also a gross misuse of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission’s (RMAFC) mandate. The organization argues that the RMAFC lacks the authority to arbitrarily increase salaries without due consideration for the dire economic realities faced by millions of Nigerians.
The crux of SERAP’s argument rests on the assertion that the RMAFC’s actions prioritize the financial interests of political elites over the welfare of the general population. At a time when over 133 million Nigerians are struggling to survive below the poverty line, and many state governments are struggling to meet their payroll obligations, SERAP argues that the proposed salary increase is both insensitive and unjustifiable.
Furthermore, SERAP draws attention to a 2021 Federal High Court ruling that mandated the RMAFC to review and reduce the salaries of lawmakers to reflect the country’s economic conditions. The organization urges President Tinubu and Attorney General Lateef Fagbemi to comply with this ruling.
SERAP has called upon President Tinubu to reject the proposed pay raise and encourage other political leaders to do the same. The organization has warned that failure to take action within the stipulated seven-day period will result in legal action to compel compliance. SERAP has expressed concerns about RMAFC consistently favoring political office holders over the interests of ordinary Nigerians, urging the commission to prioritize cutting excessive allowances and life pensions for former leaders.
The organization emphasizes that the principles of representative democracy, fairness, equality, and non-discrimination are undermined when the salaries of political office holders are arbitrarily increased while millions of Nigerians face economic hardship. SERAP further points out that the proposed pay raise violates Chapter 2 of the Nigerian Constitution, which outlines the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy, as well as the country’s international human rights obligations.
While SERAP opposes the pay raise for political leaders, the organization has expressed support for an upward review of the remuneration and conditions of service for Nigerian judges. SERAP believes this is necessary to address the persistent poor treatment of judges and improve access to justice for victims of corruption and human rights violations.
The RMAFC Chairman, Mohammed Bello, reportedly justified the proposed pay raise on the grounds that the salaries of these officeholders are “paltry.” SERAP has challenged this claim, arguing that the commission’s actions do not align with the country’s socio-economic realities.
