The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has taken legal action against the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) challenging the commission’s plan to increase salaries for the President, Vice President, Governors, their deputies, and National Assembly members.
Last month, RMAFC Chairman Mohammed Shehu described current salaries as “paltry,” highlighting that President Bola Tinubu earns N1.5 million monthly—a figure unchanged since 2008—and advocating for a raise reflective of Nigeria’s over 200 million population.
In a statement on Sunday, SERAP’s Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare confirmed the filing of suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1834/2025 at the Federal High Court in Abuja. The suit seeks a judicial declaration that RMAFC’s proposed salary increment is unlawful, unconstitutional, and violates the Nigerian Constitution (as amended) and the RMAFC Act.
SERAP demands an injunction to stop RMAFC from proceeding with the salary review and calls for a downward revision of politicians’ remuneration to align with Nigeria’s current economic realities and international human rights commitments.
Oluwadare stated, “Reviewing downward the salaries of the president, vice-president, governors, their deputies, and lawmakers would protect legitimate public interest and reflect the economic situation facing Nigerians.”
The court has yet to set a hearing date for the matter.
