The Nigerian Political Science Association has condemned the move by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission to increase the salaries of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other public officers, declaring it provocative and insensitive.

The group, In a statement by its President, Prof. Hassan Saliu, notes that the majority of Nigerian public workers are grappling with the meagre minimum wage of seventy thousand naira, and many are uncertain about their next meal.

According to NPSA, a more effective approach would be to extend the incremental salary increase already approved for judges to other professional groups, such as members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

It noted that the paltry remuneration of senior professors in public universities, who earn less than six hundred thousand naira per month after deductions, underscores the low premium placed on education and learning in Nigeria.

“The basic pay of 1.5 million naira per month for one of the highest-paid public officers in the country may seem modest, but the state’s burden in supporting such an office extends beyond salary. In light of these considerations, the proposal to increase public office holders’ salaries is misplaced and would make matters worse in the present circumstances,” NPSA stated.

It warned that the precarious economic situation in the country would worsen if substantial salary increases, as proposed by RMAFC, are approved this year or next year.

“The share of recurrent expenditure will balloon, eating deep into the capital component of the national budget. Moreover, with more loans sought from other entities across the borders, the share of debt servicing will also increase, both jeopardising the developmental aspirations of the citizens.”

NPSA, while arguing that there are more pressing issues that demand attention in Nigeria, and salary reviews for public office holders cannot be considered a priority, called for the suspension of the proposal in the interest of all Nigerians.

“Instead, a concerted effort is needed to reconcile the somewhat contradictory statistics about Nigeria from its economic partners with the realities of ordinary Nigerians, which we have heard and seen are not encouraging. Democracy should empower the majority, if not all, rather than a few who are already taking much from the commonwealth through many other sources, leaving a majority at the margin of survival. Moreover, given the alarmingly low level of productivity in the nation, the RMAFC’s proposed salary review is ill-timed and may exacerbate the nation’s worrisome productivity levels,” it added. (Saturday Sun)