The Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN) has issued a strong condemnation of a reported proposal by the federal government to raise the salaries and allowances of the nation's political officeholders.
The party characterized the potential move as a "deeply provocative and unjustifiable act," asserting that it highlights the administration's pro-capitalist priorities. This criticism was delivered in a public statement on Thursday by the party's acting national chairperson, Bamigboye Abiodun, and its national secretary, Chinedu Bosah.
The SPN's statement argues that the plan constitutes a direct affront to the millions of citizens currently enduring severe economic hardship, including widespread poverty, high unemployment, rampant inflation, and the ongoing fallout from the removal of fuel subsidies and the devaluation of the national currency.
The party specifically rejected the rationale put forward by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), which claimed current political salaries are "inadequate and outdated." The SPN labeled this reasoning "an insult to the Nigerian working people," noting that elected officials already live in "a state of obscene luxury," while the national minimum wage for workers remains critically low.
Instead of an increase, the SPN is demanding that the salaries of political officeholders be reduced to align with those of civil servants. The party contends that the funds saved from such a measure could be redirected to bolster essential public services like education and healthcare.
Accusing the Tinubu administration of continuing the anti-poor policies of previous governments, the SPN called on major labor unions, including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), to mobilize their members. The party is urging the immediate organization of a 24-hour general strike and mass protests across the country to oppose the proposed pay raise, reverse recent petrol price hikes, and roll back other policies it deems harmful to the populace.
The statement further emphasized that the struggle should extend beyond this single issue. The SPN advocates for the establishment of an independent political party for workers, founded on socialist principles. The party's position is that only a socialist program, where the country's resources are democratically managed to serve the needs of the majority, can provide a lasting solution to Nigeria's deep-rooted crises of poverty, inequality, and corruption.
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