SERAP Drags RMAFC to Court Over Planned Salary Increase for Tinubu, Governors, others

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) over its proposal to increase the salaries of political and public office holders in Nigeria.

The proposed increment covers President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, governors, their deputies, and members of the National Assembly.

RMAFC Chairman, Mohammed Shehu, recently disclosed the plan, arguing that the current salaries of these officials are “paltry.” He revealed that President Tinubu currently earns ₦1.5 million monthly, an amount unchanged since 2008, which he described as inadequate for the leader of a nation of over 200 million people.

However, SERAP disagreed with the commission’s proposal. In a statement issued on Sunday, the group’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, confirmed that the matter had been taken to the Federal High Court in Abuja under suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1834/2025. A hearing date is yet to be fixed.

SERAP is asking the court to declare the planned salary increase unlawful, unconstitutional, and inconsistent with the provisions of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as amended) and the RMAFC Act. The organisation is also seeking:

An injunction restraining RMAFC from implementing any salary increase for the president, vice president, governors, deputies, and lawmakers.

An order directing the commission to review downward the salaries and allowances of political office holders to reflect Nigeria’s current economic realities.

According to SERAP, reducing the salaries of politicians would serve public interest, align with the constitution, and reflect Nigeria’s international human rights obligations.

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