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, including the President, Vice President, governors, their deputies, and members of the National Assembly.
Last month, RMAFC Chairman Mohammed Shehu revealed the proposal, describing the current pay as “paltry.” He noted that President Bola Tinubu earns ₦1.5 million monthly—an amount unchanged since 2008—which he argued was inadequate for a country of more than 200 million people.
In a statement on Sunday, SERAP Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare confirmed that the organisation had filed suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1834/2025 at the Federal High Court in Abuja. The group is asking the court to declare the proposed pay rise unlawful, unconstitutional, and inconsistent with the rule of law.
Specifically, SERAP is seeking:
An injunction restraining RMAFC and its agents from reviewing salaries of political office holders upward.
An order directing the commission to instead review salaries and allowances downward to reflect Nigeria’s economic realities.
According to the group, raising salaries for top political leaders would violate provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the RMAFC Act, while also undermining public trust.
“Preventing arbitrary pay increases will protect legitimate public interest,” SERAP argued in its filing. “Reviewing downward the salaries of the president, vice-president, governors, their deputies, and lawmakers would align with the Constitution, Nigeria’s international human rights obligations, and the prevailing economic situation.”
A hearing date for the case is yet to be fixed.
