In a country with 200 million people struggling with record high inflation and a cost of living crisis, political salaries are a hot topic. People have speculated about their leaders’ salaries, sometimes inflating figures. How much do Nigerian leaders make? Or most commonly, how much is the salary of the Nigerian President? The real answer is more complicated than an easy monthly salary.
This article will examine the real figures, the long list of allowances, the constitution, and how the salaries of Nigeria’s presidents compare with the leaders of other countries in Africa.
Also see: Average Monthly Salary in Nigeria by State (2026): State-by-State Breakdown
Who Determines the President’s Salary in Nigeria?
Many Nigerians believe the President decides his own pay. This is incorrect.
The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) is a constitutional body established under Section 153 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
The Commission is empowered under Paragraph 32(d) of Part I of the Third Schedule of the Constitution to decide the salary of political office holders including:
- President
- Vice President
- Governors
- Deputy Governors
- Ministers
- Legislators
- Judicial officers
RMAFC’s recommendation on salary is executed through the Certain Political, Public and Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances, etc.) Act last fully updated in 2008.
Discussions have taken place throughout the years to reassess remuneration of political office holders, although the existing remuneration package has mainly stayed based on the 2007 review
What Is the Official Salary of the Nigerian President?
According to the official remuneration package approved by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, the President of Nigeria receives:
| Salary Component | Amount |
| Annual Basic Salary | ₦14,058,820 |
| Monthly Basic Salary | Approximately ₦1,171,568 |
The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) says the president of Nigeria has a salary that is low in comparison to the prominent salaries of the world and, the official numbers reveal a story of modest basic pay augmented by significant allowances
The statements that are most commonly made in Nigeria are:
The Monthly Basic Salary: The President of Nigeria is reported to have a Monthly Basic Salary of approximately ₦1,405,882.
The Monthly Total Salary Package: The Monthly Total Salary Package of the President of Nigeria amounts to ₦1,171,568.
The Monthly Total Salary Package consists of a Basic Salary of ₦292,892, a Hardship Allowance of ₦146,446, and a Consistency Allowance of ₦732,230.
The discrepancy, cite the basic salary as opposed to the Monthly Total Salary Package that consists of the Basic Salary and Allowances. The Chairman of RMAFC, Mohammed Shehu, has stated in the media that the salary of President Bola Tinubu is approximately ₦1.5 million.
Annually, this translates to a total salary and regular allowance package of approximately ₦14,058,820. However, when consolidated allowances are added, some reports estimate the annual figure can reach as high as ₦106,870,584.
This substantial gap highlights the crucial role of allowances in the total compensation of Nigeria’s highest office.
Beyond the Salary: The 18 Allowances and Perks
The President’s official salary is just the tip of the iceberg. The role comes with a staggering array of allowances and benefits that significantly inflate the total cost to the taxpayer.
According to a 2021 investigation, the President receives 18 different allowances each month.
These allowances include:
- Hardship Allowance: 50% of the basic salary.
- Consistency Allowance: 250% of the basic salary.
- Constituency Allowance
- Accommodation Allowance
- Utility Allowance
- Domestic Staff Allowance
- Vehicle Maintenance Allowance
- Security Allowance
- Entertainment Allowance
- Furniture Allowance (paid once every four years)
On top of the monthly and other periodic allowances, the President benefits from state-sponsored accommodation at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, state-sponsored health care, and a state-sponsored fleet of cars.
Labour leaders have observed that while the President’s official salary is relatively low, the full package (medical, housing, travel, and security) pushes the overall cost to the taxpayer much higher.
Why Do Many People Think the President Earns More?
The confusion comes from the difference between:
- Basic salary
- Total remuneration
- Cost of operating the Presidency
These are three completely different concepts.
The President receives a basic salary similar to other political office holders, but the office itself is supported by a wide range of operational expenses that are funded separately by the Federal Government.
These include:
- Official residences
- Security personnel
- Presidential aircraft
- Official vehicles
- Domestic staff
- Medical services
- Official travel
- State functions
- Administrative support
These government expenditures are often mistakenly described as part of the President’s personal salary.
President Tinubu’s Salary
Since assuming office in May 2023, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been paid according to the existing remuneration structure approved by RMAFC.
In March 2026, the Presidency announced that President Tinubu pledged to donate all his presidential salaries received since assuming office as seed funding for a welfare fund supporting members of the Nigerian Armed Forces and the families of fallen service personnel.
The Constitutional and Legal Framework: Section 84 and Life Pension
The salary of the President is not a product of executive discretion. It is constitutionally based. Section 84 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria deals with the “Remuneration, etc. of the President and certain other officers”.
Most importantly, the RMAFC is the organ with the constitutional mandate to set these salaries, thereby ensuring that office holders do not set their own salaries.
One of the most monumental, and expensive, of these provisions is the pension right of former Presidents. Section 84(5) of the Constitution provides that:
“Any person who has held office as President or Vice-President shall be entitled to pension for life at a rate equivalent to the annual salary of the incumbent President or Vice-President”.
This provision means that the former President will draw a salary for life at the rate of the sitting President.
In the event of a President’s death, this pension shall be payable to their immediate family for the next five years.
This arrangement also guarantees that the cost of presidential remuneration greatly transcends the period the President actually serves.
A Comparative View: Nigeria vs. Other African Leaders
Comparing Nigeria’s presidential salary with other African countries is interesting because Nigeria’s Presidency has most likely been among the most underpaid in Africa.
Among the 15 Highest Paid Presidents in Africa, Nigeria’s former President Muhammadu Buhari was the least paid; he was paid $69,000 per year. This was possible because of Buhari and his Vice President’s 50% pay cut in 2015, which was voluntary.
However, considering the prevailing economic inequality, it’s actually quite different. According to a 2024 SBM Intelligence Report, while Nigeria has the lowest minimum wage of the top ten African economies, the President’s monthly salary is 287.5 times the annual minimum wage. For comparison:
In Kenya, the president earns 117.7 times the minimum wage.
In Algeria, the wage gap is 99:1.
This shows the economic divide in Nigeria. The minimum wage, which was ₦30,000 during the report period, was considered not a living wage. Nigeria’s minimum wage was, and still is, under pressure with Nigeria’s inflation rate at 34.19%, as of June 2024.
Salary Increment: The Controversy
In August 2025, there was total chaos in Nigeria, when the RMAFC announced the increment of all political office holders, including the President.
The wages have not been adjusted since 2008, and were therefore described by the RMAFC as “obsolete and unrealistic.”
The reason was given by the Chairperson, Mr. Mohammed Shehu, as:
“You pay the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria N1.5 million a month, with a population of over 200 million people. You cannot pay a minister less than N1 million per month since 2008 and expect him to put his best”
Civil society groups and labor unions expressed outrage at the proposal. Labor unions like the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and civil society groups like the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) labeled the proposal ‘illegal’ and ‘insensitive’ among other similar designations.
SERAP argued that in light of the fact that over 133 million Nigerians live in poverty and that several state governments have been unable to pay their employees, the RMAFC is unable to justify increasing the salaries of the President and the Legislators.
Femi Falana, a human rights lawyer, also condemned the proposal, saying that given how people continue to experience the effects of the economic downturn, the proposal is ‘insensitive’ among other things.
Also see: Minimum Wage vs. Living Wage in Nigeria: The Statistical Gap (2019–2026)
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the Nigerian President’s monthly salary?
The official monthly basic salary is approximately ₦1.17 million, based on an annual basic salary of ₦14,058,820.
Does the President receive allowances?
Yes. The President receives several allowances and statutory benefits in accordance with the remuneration package approved by RMAFC and applicable law.
Who fixes the President’s salary?
The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has the constitutional mandate to determine the remuneration of political office holders in Nigeria.
Can the President increase his own salary?
No. The President cannot unilaterally determine or increase his own salary. Changes to political office holders’ remuneration follow constitutional and statutory procedures involving RMAFC and the relevant legal approval process.
Conclusion: The Real Price of Governance
When measured against other countries, it is true that the salary of the President of Nigeria is relatively low. However, when counting the salaries in conjunction with state sponsored benefits, allowances in addition to the president’s lifetime allowance, the price is very expensive.
The discussion surrounding the salary of Presidents is not merely quantitative; it is a qualitative discussion that touches on the social contract between the citizens and the government. Proposals to increase the salaries of political office holders who enjoy benefits that are beyond the reach of Nigerians, is bound to elicit outrage, especially against the backdrop of suffering of the large majority of Nigerians who are unable to meet their basic needs.
In the face of Nigeria’s economic challenges, the discussion of the salaries of politicians is a measure of how caring the government is against the backdrop of how fiscally irresponsible it is. While the numbers may be one thing, the perception of fairness is another.
Disclaimer: This article is based on publicly available data from the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), constitutional provisions, and reports from credible news outlets. Currency conversions and figures are accurate as of the time of publication.