The Federal Government has announced plans to review the salaries of top political office holders, including the President, governors, ministers, and other senior officials. Officials say the current pay is no longer enough considering the responsibilities and challenges these leaders face.

At a press briefing in Abuja, Mohammed Shehu, Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), revealed that President Bola Tinubu currently earns ₦1.5 million per month, while ministers take home less than ₦1 million monthly. These figures, he noted, have not changed since 2008. Shehu described the current pay structure as “unrealistic” and “untenable” for the people in these positions.

Shehu also highlighted huge gaps in pay across government offices. For example, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria earns about ten times more than the President, while heads of certain agencies can make up to twenty times more than the Attorney-General of the Federation. He called this imbalance “unfair and unacceptable.”

The RMAFC emphasized that it is constitutionally responsible for determining the salaries of political, judicial, and legislative office holders, though it does not control salaries for civil servants or other public sector workers. The proposed review has drawn criticism from labor groups. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) argued that the move overlooks growing inequality and the many allowances and perks already available to public officials.

The government says it will engage with labor unions, civil society groups, and other stakeholders to ensure a fair approach to the salary adjustments.