The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has opposed the demand by public and political officeholders for an upward review of their remuneration by the Federal Government.
Malam Kabiru Minjibir, the Kano NLC Chairman, said this while speaking at the public hearing on the review of remuneration package for public, political and judicial officeholders in Kano.
Minjibir said such a review was not necessary when the country is grappling with economic challenges.
He urged the Federal Government to suspend the review of any remuneration packages.
Rather, the labour wants the government to control inflation and the high cost of goods in the country.
According to him, the recent survey by the National Bureau of Statistics indicates that 133 million Nigerians are multi-dimensionally poor.
“The economic challenges confronting us today are unprecedented.
“It will be unacceptable for political office holders to demand pay rise while Nigerians are battling with inflation.
“What we demand from them is an act of sacrifice by accepting salary or wage reduction in solidarity with the people of Nigeria,” Minjibir said.
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He, however, said that the NLC supports wage review for judges.
Minjibir advised the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to ensure that for every remuneration, there is justification and equity.
Also speaking, RMAFC Chairman, Alhaji Mohammad Shehu, said President Muhammadu Buhari had mandated the commission to review the remuneration package.
According to him, the Federal Executive Council deliberated on other remuneration packages for political office holders.
“The President also directed the commission to ensure adequate review of the packages,” he said.
Shehu explained that the public hearing was done simultaneously in Kano, Jos, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Enugu and Akure.
“We are here to engage all the stakeholders – labour leaders, judicial officers, government officials and legislators – from the Northwest.
This is so that they can give us their views before the commission takes the final stand on this,” he said.
He said such a review could lead to an increase or decrease in the remuneration of political office holders in the country.
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