Ohanaeze Calls For Slash Of Political Office Holders’ Salaries, Says Nigerians Are Hungry And Angry 

By Alex Odeh

The pan Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has urged the Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to immediately suspend any proposed salary increases for political office holders, including the President, Vice President, Governors, Deputy Governors, and lawmakers.

The igbo highest Igbo body in a press statement issued on Monday in Abakaliki and jointly signed by Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro and Chief Thompson Ohia, Deputy President General and National Spokesman of Ohanaeze Ndigbo respectively, called for the reduction of salaries of political office holders.

Ohanaeze expressed the fear that should the federal government proceeds with the increment of the salaries of political office holders, it faces the risk of experiencing the unrest which took place in Kenya and in Venezuela.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo further advocated for the immediate implementation of the Federal High Court verdict led by Justice Chuka Austine Obiozor, which demanded a downward review and slashing of the exorbitant salaries of Nigerian politicians.

The statement reads: “The Apex Igbo Socio-Cultural Organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, finds itself compelled to issue a resolute and unvarnished message to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. We call upon him to immediately suspend any proposed salary increases for political office holders, including the President, Vice President, Governors, Deputy Governors, and lawmakers.

“To ignore this urgent plea is to risk ensnaring his administration in the traps laid by adversaries, ultimately provoking the backlash and wrathful vengeance of an angry and oppressed populace.

“Ohanaeze Ndigbo, with the utmost respect and candor, grounded in the stark realities that confront our nation, urges President Tinubu to comply with the 2021 Federal High Court ruling delivered by Justice Chuka Austine Obiozor.

“This ruling explicitly mandated the Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to review and reduce lawmakers’ salaries to reflect Nigeria’s economic realities. It is imperative to recognize that RMAFC possesses neither the unrestricted constitutional authority nor the statutory mandate to arbitrarily increase the salaries of the President, Vice President, Governors, Deputy Governors, and lawmakers. Such actions represent a gross misuse of RMAFC’s constitutional and statutory mandates.

“The gravity of this situation cannot be overstated; the message must be conveyed unequivocally, irrespective of whose interests may be adversely affected. The RMAFC has ignited a raging fire that, if not extinguished by the Presidency, threatens to spiral into uncontrollable rebellion.

“This unrest could provide the opposition with a significant advantage over the Federal Government. The citizens of Nigeria are both hungry and angry; the Federal Government’s proposed pay rise for politicians, amidst a soaring cost of living, not only constitutes an affront but also serves as a breeding ground for chaos and anarchy.

“Ohanaeze Ndigbo advocates for the immediate implementation of the Federal High Court verdict led by Justice Chuka Austine Obiozor, which demands a downward review and slashing of the exorbitant salaries of Nigerian politicians. The Presidency must exemplify empathy and solidarity with the populace, demonstrating that they too are affected by the stringent economic policies that negatively impact the daily survival of Nigerians.

“Should the Federal Government proceed with RMAFC’s proposal to increase politicians’ salaries in blatant disregard of the overwhelming cries of hardship and suffering experienced by the citizenry, we may witness a resurgence of unrest akin to the youth riots in Kenya and the revolutionary fervor in Venezuela before the dawn of 2026. Such actions would only serve to fuel the opposition’s claims that this Government remains insensitively detached from the plights and tribulations of the Nigerian people.

“In conclusion, we implore President Tinubu to act decisively and responsibly, for the future stability of our great nation hinges upon his willingness to listen to the voices of the people and to act in their best interest”, they appealed.