He has to give them a raise to make up for the tax increases they will get because of their failure to do their jobs!
He's baiting them, baiting them and training them to eat from his hand -- and patronizing them publicly.
Julius Caesar pulled crap like this all the time .... unconstitutionally showing off his liberalitas, offering his amicitia, which of course had a price tag ..... like Vito Corleone's.
"Plata o Plombo" is the way the Colombian subvertors put it. "Take our silver, or eat our lead."