By Olatunbosun Obafemi
The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has commenced a comprehensive review of remuneration packages for political and public office holders across Nigeria, a process that could lead to significant adjustments after almost two decades without change.
The Commission is currently holding a strategic retreat in Kano to harmonise reports and fine-tune recommendations before the release of a revised salary structure. The exercise follows last year’s review of judicial officers’ salaries, which was approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Declaring the retreat open, Chairman of RMAFC’s Remuneration and Monetisation Committee, Hon. Mohammed Kabeer Usman, who represents Gombe State, described the assignment as critical to governance stability. He explained that the Committee was mandated to consolidate earlier reports and fresh submissions into a single framework that would guide implementation.
“The Commission carefully considered memoranda from stakeholders, public hearings, ministerial submissions, economic indicators and international remuneration practices,” Usman said. “This review is not just about figures, but about sustainability. We must ensure government has the capacity to implement whatever changes are approved.”
He reminded participants that the 1999 Constitution empowers the RMAFC to determine appropriate pay for political, public, and judicial office holders, urging members to ensure the outcome is balanced and beneficial to the system.
Earlier, RMAFC Chairman, Mohammed Shehu, underscored the urgency of updating salaries. He disclosed that President Tinubu currently earns N1.5 million monthly, while ministers earn less than N1 million—a structure unchanged since 2008.
“You are paying the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria N1.5 million a month, with a population of over 200 million people. Everybody believes it is a joke,” Shehu remarked. “You cannot pay a minister less than N1 million and expect him to put in his best, while heads of agencies earn ten to twenty times more than the Attorney-General or the President. That is simply not right.”
He clarified that the review only covers political office holders such as governors, legislators, ministers, and directors-general, acknowledging public opposition to any pay rise for politicians. However, he stressed that a realistic structure was necessary to reflect responsibilities and reduce systemic distortions.
Currently, remuneration remains at 2007 levels: the President earns N14.05 million annually, the Vice President N12.1 million, while ministers and other top officials earn about N8.1 million. Senators receive N8.1 million annually, while members of the House of Representatives take home N7.9 million. State governors earn N8.89 million annually, with commissioners receiving N5.34 million. At the local government level, chairmen earn N3.63 million yearly.
The Commission’s review is expected to align salaries with current economic realities, while balancing affordability and public perception amid growing concerns about governance costs.
