Lawmakers, govs should be placed on same minimum wage as labour – Father Mbaka
Controversial Theologian Rev. Father Ejike Mbaka of the Catholic Church has urged that legislators and state governors receive the same ₦62,000 minimum pay as workers in Nigeria. Father Mbaka criticized the allowances parliamentarians receive in spite of the nation’s general economic suffering.
Mbaka also advised the government to not treat the minimum wage issue with kid gloves to avert a potential crisis.
His remarks come after the standoff between Organised Labour on the one hand, and the federal, state, and local governments as well as the organised private sector on the other hand, over a new minimum wage.
The labour unions embarked on an industrial action last Monday after rejecting the ₦60,000 proposed by the government.
The strike was later called off on Tuesday after the organised labour extracted the commitment of President Bola Tinubu that the new proposal would exceed ₦60,000.
Meanwhile, the government has since presented a new offer of ₦62,000 to labour even though the latter insisted on ₦250,000, a big draw down from its earlier stance of ₦494,000.
Mbaka claims legislators and governors ought to make ₦62,000 as well.
Speaking to reporters on Saturday, June 8, 2024, Mbaka initially voiced his complaints about the enormous allowances politicians receive in spite of the nation’s general economic suffering.
He stressed that senators, governors, and members of the House of Representatives should also receive the proposed ₦62,000 national minimum wage.
