Reacting from his base in Germany to Heritage Media Group, Hon. (Dr.) Kenneth Gbandi condemned in the strongest terms the recent contemplation by the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to review upward the salaries of political office holders in Nigeria.
Hon. Gbandi described the move as “a clear sign of a broken system,” stressing that no institution in a nation that truly understands the pain of its citizens should have the audacity to even hint at such “irresponsible and reckless contemplation.”
“At a time when responsible leaders across the world are voluntarily giving up parts of their salaries to reduce the burden on their struggling economies, Nigeria’s political elite should be leading by example not further deepening the pain of ordinary citizens,” Gbandi said.
He called the reported statement by RMAFC Chairman, Mohammed Shehu, suggesting a possible salary increase for the President and other political office holders, “a slap in the face of suffering Nigerians” and “a complete disconnect from the reality of the times.”
“Nigerians are already grappling with unprecedented economic hardship, runaway inflation, and a collapsing currency. For the RMAFC to even contemplate increasing salaries for public officials in such a climate is not just insensitive, it is morally bankrupt and beyond the comprehension of any rational Nigerian,” he stated.
Hon. Gbandi questioned how much ordinary Nigerians truly hold their leaders accountable, from local government chairmen to the Presidency, warning that silence in the face of such proposals only emboldens the political class.
“This is not just about money; it is about the social contract. Leadership should be about service and sacrifice, not self-enrichment at the expense of citizens who can barely afford food, transport, or healthcare,” Gbandi concluded.
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