An upward review in the earnings of political office holders will lead to poverty and increase violence in the country, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has warned.
Such review, the union noted, was not necessary at a time the country was battling with local and foreign debt as well as grappling with a lot of economic challenges.
The TUC said this in a statement jointly signed by its President, Quadri Olaleye and its Secretary General, Musa-Lawal Ozigi, on Tuesday in Abuja.
It described the proposed review as a “conspiracy that must not be allowed to stand because of the dire consequences it will further have on the economy, people and our collective image.”
The Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission had on Monday said it plans to undertake a review of the remuneration of political office holders in the country.
The commission had noted that such review could lead to an upward increase or decrease in the remuneration of political office holders in the country.
But the TUC, in the statement, demanded for a drastic reduction in the cost of governance in the country.
The statement reads: “We read with consternation the plan by the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission to review the remuneration of political office holders at a time the local and foreign debt is overwhelming and the country grappling with a lot of economic issues. This is a conspiracy that must not be allowed to stand because of the dire consequences it will further have on the economy, people and our collective image.
“Does it mean the Federal Government increased the Value Added Tax (VAT) to raise money to pay the politicians? Some countries in Africa now have a unicameral legislature because their former system was eating deep into the national treasury.
“Why can’t we think along that line, after all, we have a National Assembly that you could hardly see all the members seated at every session. It is the same thing at the state level, yet their absence has never disturbed any session. Imagine a Councilors with O’Level result earns higher than a University Professors?
“It is only in Nigeria that ex-governors who served two terms will retire to the senate yet earn pension from the state. It is only in Nigeria that ex-governors that are jailed for corruption collect salaries and other allowances. This is preposterous and it makes mockery of our system.
“Report had it that if the Federal Government succeeds in borrowing the $29. 9b it applied for our total debt profile would have risen to about $84b. Even the World Bank has warned about the danger and consequences of our debt yet it appears no one cares if the country goes further down in shame.
“The question is, why tax or borrow just to pay politicians and service cronies when over 21 percent of our able bodied youths are unemployed? We are worried that the insecurity situation arising from unemployment does not bother them?
“We are demanding that the cost of governance be drastically reduced. We do not need 496 lawmakers. Governors do not need over 500 aides. It is too expensive to maintain.
“The salaries and allowances of these public office holders in Nigeria is part of the cause of the economic hardship in Nigeria. Half of these political officials’ salaries, if put into proper use, could give hundred thousands of unemployed youths useful employment.
“To this effect, if Nigeria will move forward then there is a serious need for imminent restructuring of the political system. For us the leadership belittles the country before the international community when they nurse such ideas now. It is a bizarre thing to do and we condemn it in strong terms. We enjoin the authorities to drop the idea to restrain the do-or-die attitude of some politicians.”
