In response to the unauthorized 114 percent salary increment of President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and other elected politicians in Nigeria, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has issued a stern warning, stating its intention to initiate legal proceedings against President Tinubu in court.

SERAP has deemed the salary increments of state governors and lawmakers as exorbitant and unacceptable. Taking to Twitter, the organization announced its plans, stating, “BREAKING: We’re suing the Tinubu administration over its outrageous and illegal 114 percent increase in the salaries of the President, vice president, state governors, and lawmakers, while over 133 million Nigerians live in extreme poverty.”

The approval for the salary increases was granted by the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC). The commission is responsible for determining appropriate remuneration for political officeholders, including the president, vice president, governors, deputy governors, ministers, commissioners, special advisers, legislators, and other relevant officeholders outlined in sections 84 and 124 of the Nigerian Constitution.

RMAFC has called on the 36 states’ Houses of Assembly to expedite the process of amending relevant laws to accommodate the upward review of remuneration packages for political, judicial, and public officers. During the presentation of the reviewed remuneration package reports to Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, RMAFC Chairman Muhammadu Shehu, represented by Federal Commissioner Rakiya Tanko-Ayuba, stressed the importance of the amendments.

SERAP’s threat of legal action highlights the organization’s commitment to promoting transparency and accountability in governance, particularly regarding public funds and equitable remuneration for elected officials.