“Recipe for anarchy” – Ohanaeze warns on proposed politicians’ pay rise

Ohanaeze Ndigbo has raised the alarm over the proposed salary increase for political office holders, describing the move as a potential “breeding ground for anarchy.”

In a statement on Monday, Deputy President-General Okechukwu Isiguzoro and National Spokesman Thompson Ohia said approving pay hikes at a time of rising hardship could spark widespread unrest.

“The RMAFC has ignited a raging fire that, if not checked, threatens to spiral into uncontrollable rebellion. Nigerians are both hungry and angry,” the statement read.

The group questioned the powers of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to increase lawmakers’ pay unilaterally, citing a 2021 federal high court ruling by Justice Chuka Austine Obiozor, which ordered the review and reduction of salaries to reflect economic realities.

Ohanaeze urged government authorities to consider the plight of ordinary citizens and called for measures that align political wages with national economic conditions, warning that ignoring public sentiment could lead to unrest similar to incidents in Kenya and Venezuela.

“Approving such a proposal at this time is not just insensitive—it risks fuelling anger among suffering Nigerians,” the organisation said.