SERAP Rejects Lawmakers’ Salary Hike, Calls for Pay Cut Instead

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has declared that any proposal to increase the wages of Nigerian lawmakers would be unacceptable, insisting instead on a pay cut.

Speaking on Arise Television, Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP’s Deputy Director, criticized the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) for proposing an upward review of political office holders’ salaries.

Oluwadare questioned both the legal and moral basis for an increase, arguing that Nigeria’s struggling economy and widespread poverty make a hike indefensible.

“We’ve seen from the statement put on the RMAFC website. According to RMAFC, it has done stakeholder consultations, and they are about to put stakeholders’ consultations, which I do not know of, into action.

“What is the basis of this review? A downward review will be acceptable, not an upward review,” he said.

Oluwadare further alleged that members of the National Assembly, as well as the President and Vice President, already take home more than the allowances recommended by RMAFC.

“Whatever RMAFC recommends as part of the upward review for politicians will only add to what they already take home,” he added.