A fresh national debate has been triggered over the salaries of Nigeria’s top political leaders — the President, Vice President, and Federal Ministers. While some argue that their official salaries are too low compared to the magnitude of responsibilities they shoulder, others strongly disagree, pointing to the numerous allowances and perks of office that come with these positions.
Currently, beyond their basic salaries, top government officials receive generous allowances covering housing, travel, medicals, duty tours, estacodes, furniture, and even hardship benefits. These allowances often run into millions of naira, making their total compensation package far higher than their declared monthly salaries.
Critics say it is misleading to claim that the President and Ministers are “underpaid” when their allowances, benefits, and other entitlements already put them among the highest earners in the country. For many Nigerians struggling with rising inflation, unemployment, and poor living conditions, the real question is:
👉 What happened to all the allowances they receive?
Supporters of a salary review, however, insist that allowances should not be used as an excuse to keep salaries low, arguing that a transparent salary structure would reduce backdoor spending and set clear standards for accountability.
This hot debate has now divided public opinion: Should the focus be on increasing salaries, scrapping allowances, or cutting down on the cost of governance altogether?
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