A Chieftain of the New Nigeria People’s Party, (NNPP), Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, has called on the country’s national legislators to be sensitive to workers’ demand on the new minimum wage and support their course.
Ajadi said the National Assembly members that represent various parts of the country should be in a position to provide a good voice in backing the workers on a realistic minimum wage.
In a statement he issued on Wednesday, Ajadi who noted that the civil servants are the engine room of the government who are responsible for revenue generation, said the delay in agreement on a new minimum wage between the Federal Government and workers is causing an untold hardship on an average worker who needs to feed himself and his family under the current galloping inflation.
He said he is surprised that governors and national lawmakers who earn huge salaries and allowances monthly are even saying they cannot afford N62,000 monthly salary being proposed by the Federal Government but which has not even been accepted by the Labour leaders.
According to Ajadi, the Ogun state governorship candidate of the NNPP in the 2023 general election, “There was a revelation recently where it was alleged that members of the House of Representatives collect basic salary of N2.5m monthly; Furniture Allowance, N7.5m monthly; Newspapers Allowance, N1.2m monthly; Wardrobe Allowance, N621,000 monthly; Recess Allowance, N248,000 monthly; Accommodation Allowance, N4.9m monthly among others.
“If these are to be true, why are our lawmakers not sensitive to workers’ demand of a six figure minimum wage. Our Lawmakers should realise that the workers attend the same market they are attending and there is no market for the poor as distinct for the rich.
“I think the national legislators in passing the new minimum wage should be sincere with the economic reality in the country where N62,000 cannot even buy a basket of tomato, and a bag of beans goes for about N150,000.”
While pleading that the National Assembly should be sincere and be realistic before signing the new minimum wage act, Ajadi added that “Gari is now a ‘no go area’ for the workers as the prices keep increasing daily, talk less of rice that cannot be touched in the market by an average worker. They should realise that workers are being used to execute all the government engagements in ministries and all the parastatals. They are engine room that generates revenue for the nation”, he said.
