Dare Babalola
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on President Tinubu to direct the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to suspend the recent pay rise for political office holders, including the president, vice-president, governors, and lawmakers.
In a letter to the president on Sunday, SERAP argued that the pay rise is unconstitutional and a gross misuse of the RMAFC’s mandates. The organisation emphasised that the commission’s decision to increase salaries for political office holders while millions of Nigerians struggle with poverty and poor public services is unjustifiable.
“Suspending the imminent pay rise for political office holders would serve legitimate public interests,” SERAP stated. “When the exercise of RMAFC’s constitutional and statutory mandates clashes with Nigerians’ fundamental rights, the public interests in upholding these rights ought to prevail.”
SERAP also urged the president to direct the Attorney General to ensure compliance with a court judgment directing the RMAFC to review downward the salaries and allowances of lawmakers.
The organsation gave the president a seven-day ultimatum to take the recommended measures, failing which SERAP would take legal action to compel the government to comply.
I changed the tone to be more formal and objective, while maintaining the essence of SERAP’s demands. Let me know if you’d like me to make any further adjustments!
