Popular Catholic priest, Rev. Father Ejike Mbaka, has urged the Federal Government to address the minimum wage issue with caution to prevent potential crises.
His comments come amidst ongoing negotiations between the Federal Government and labor unions regarding a new minimum wage. While the government has proposed a new minimum wage of N62,000, labor unions are demanding N250,000.
Mbaka criticized the allowances given to legislators, highlighting the disparity between the hardships faced by ordinary Nigerians and the benefits enjoyed by senators, governors, and members of the House of Representatives.
He suggested that these officials should also receive the proposed N62,000 minimum wage to better understand the struggles of the average Nigerian. The cleric advised the government to carefully navigate this issue to avoid escalating tensions and potential unrest.
Speaking to journalists, Mbaka stated, “If we decide to give labour N60,000 or N62,000, why not generalise it to the House of Assembly members, senatorial members, House of Representative members, and governors?”
Minimum wage: Workers differ, govs want revenue sharing reviewed
“They are all civil servants, so are the others slaves? I can’t understand why they are amazing billions as sitting allowance, wardrobe allowance, newspaper allowance, and suffering allowance.”
“The people that should have such allowances are those suffering in the village.”
Speaking further, Mbaka said, “How much are our teachers, nurses, and doctors being paid? Let’s be realistic, our civil servants that wake early and return late daily, how much are they being paid?”
“Looking at the level of inflation in the country, you will see that we are all not sincere in this country.”
“I’m pleading with the government that a stitch in time saves nine; this situation must be handled with care because it might be hijacked and nobody knows the ripple effect.”