Activist Hamzat Lawal has lashed out at political office holders pushing for higher salaries, telling them to resign and test their worth in the private sector if they believe their current pay is inadequate.
Lawal, who is the Chief Executive of Connected Development (CODE), described the call for a review of salaries by the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) as “tone-deaf, reckless, and insensitive” at a time when millions of Nigerians are battling the worst economic hardship in decades.
He noted that while citizens struggle daily with rising food prices, fuel costs, and joblessness, politicians already enjoy hefty allowances, perks, and access to public resources.
“If they feel shortchanged, let them resign and go into the private sector where they can truly earn based on their capacity and performance. Public service is not for personal enrichment, it is for sacrifice,” Lawal said.
The activist further cautioned the RMAFC against bowing to political pressure, insisting that what the country needs now is austerity, cost-cutting, and responsible governance—not bloated paychecks for those in power.
He urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to focus on policies that alleviate poverty and restore public confidence, warning that approving a salary increase for political office holders would only fuel public anger and deepen distrust in government.