The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, (SERAP) has called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately suspend a proposed salary increase for political office holders, including the president, vice-president, governors, their deputies, and lawmakers.
The organisation, in a letter dated August 23, 2025, signed by SERAP Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare, labelled the proposal as “patently unlawful and unconstitutional”.
It urged Tinubu to direct the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission to halt the pay rise, which it argues violates Nigeria’s Constitution and international human rights obligations.
SERAP also called on the President and Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, (SAN), to comply with a 2021 Federal High Court ruling by Justice Chuka Austine Obiozor, which mandated the RMAFC to review and reduce lawmakers’ salaries to reflect Nigeria’s economic realities.
SERAP criticised the RMAFC for prioritising salary increases for politicians at a time when over 133 million Nigerians live in poverty and many state governments struggle to pay workers’ salaries and pensions.
The organisation described the move as a “gross misuse” of the RMAFC’s mandate, emphasising that the Commission lacks the authority to arbitrarily raise salaries without considering public interest or economic challenges.
SERAP urged Tinubu to reject the pay rise and encourage other political leaders to do the same, warning that failure to act within seven days could lead to legal action to enforce compliance.
“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within 7 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel your government and RMFAC to comply with our request in the public interest.
It added that, “Directing the RMFAC to suspend the imminent pay rise for political office holders will be entirely consistent with your constitutional oath of office and your oft-expressed commitment including to work to ensure ‘a better society’ and ‘the collective sacrifices of us all’, as stated in your inauguration speech.
“The RMFAC should properly discharge its constitutional and statutory mandates to ‘monitor the accruals to and disbursement of revenue from the Federation Account and ‘advise the Federal and State Governments on fiscal efficiency and methods by which their revenue can be increased”, the statement read in part.
However, SERAP said it supports “the upward review of the remuneration, salaries and allowances and conditions of service for Nigerian judges to address the persistent poor treatment of judges, and to improve access of victims of corruption and human rights violations to justice and effective remedies”.
