…As Nigerian workers beg for survival wages, federal lawmakers are busy lobbying for more money.
The greed and hypocrisy could not be more glaring.
By Our reporter
Outrage is growing across Nigeria as members of the National Assembly push for yet another round of salary and allowance increases, even as millions of workers suffer under a minimum wage that can no longer sustain basic survival. This self-serving demand, coming from a legislative body that has consistently delayed or diluted the implementation of wage reforms for ordinary citizens, is a disturbing reflection of the inequality and impunity that defines the Nigerian political class.
At a time when inflation is ravaging household incomes, food prices have skyrocketed, and essential services remain underfunded, lawmakers who already earn more than almost any public servant in the country are lobbying for more financial benefits. Their greed reveals an alarming disconnect from the very people they claim to represent. While Nigerians tighten their belts to survive, the National Assembly appears determined to loosen its own for greater comfort.
The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) recently confirmed that deliberations are ongoing to review and raise the salaries and benefits of political officeholders, including federal lawmakers. This initiative comes barely a year after the minimum wage was revised to ₦70,000 a figure that is now widely seen as grossly inadequate due to Nigeria’s spiraling cost of living. Despite the law, many states and public institutions have yet to implement this new wage structure in full. Some workers still earn less, others face delayed payments, and many sectors are yet to benefit from any consequential salary adjustments.
Rather than focusing on enforcing compliance across the country, the National Assembly has prioritized its own comfort. That lawmakers are moving with such speed and determination to secure more pay for themselves, while dragging their feet on matters that affect the livelihoods of millions, is nothing short of betrayal.
This shameful episode underscores the depth of inequality in Nigeria. While most workers live on less than ₦2,500 a day barely enough to cover food and transportation many lawmakers reportedly pocket over ₦30 million monthly in salaries, allowances, and other hidden perks. The sheer scale of this disparity is immoral. It fuels public anger, breeds resentment, and erodes trust in government.
Even more galling is the hypocrisy on display. When issues like healthcare, education, or social welfare are discussed, lawmakers are quick to cite budget constraints or fiscal discipline. Yet, when it comes to their own pockets, those same constraints magically disappear. Such double standards are why many Nigerians no longer believe in the sincerity of those who occupy public office.
This is not just about salaries it is about values. It is about leadership that is accountable, empathetic, and responsible. A government that fails to pay workers fairly, but rushes to reward itself, is unfit to lead. The National Assembly’s pursuit of personal gain in the face of national suffering must be condemned by all Nigerians.
Civil society groups, labour unions, the media, and ordinary citizens must raise their voices. Lawmakers must be reminded that they are servants of the people, not masters of the treasury. Until elected officials are held to account, and public office is no longer treated as a shortcut to wealth, Nigeria will remain trapped in a cycle of exploitation and injustice.
If lawmakers believe they deserve a raise, let them first ensure that every Nigerian worker is paid a living wage, on time, and in full. Let them walk the streets without security escorts and face the same economic conditions as the people they represent. Only then will they understand the true meaning of public service.
Nigeria deserves leaders who work for the people, not against them. Anything less is an insult to the sacrifices of the everyday Nigerian. The time to act is now.
