A Chieftain of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, has called on the National Assembly members to be sensitive to workers’ demands on the new minimum wage.
Ajadi said National Assembly members that represent various parts of the country should be in a position to provide a good voice by backing the workers on a realistic minimum wage.
He noted that civil servants are the engine room of the government and are responsible for revenue generation.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Ajadi, who was the Ogun state governorship candidate of the NNPP in the 2023 general election, said the delay in agreeing on a new minimum wage between the federal government and workers is causing untold hardship for 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 Assembly members who earn huge salaries and allowances monthly are even saying they cannot afford the N62,000 monthly salary proposed by the Federal Government, which the Labour Party has not even accepted.
According to Ajadi, “There was a revelation recently where it was alleged that members of the House of Representatives collect a basic salary of N2.5 million monthly; a furniture allowance of N7.5 million monthly; a newspaper allowance of N1.2 million monthly; a wardrobe allowance of N621,000 monthly; a recess allowance of N248,000 monthly; and an accommodation allowance of N4.9 million monthly, among others.
“If these are true, why are our lawmakers not sensitive to workers’ demand for 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 Assembly members 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 tomatoes and a bag of beans goes for about N150,000.
“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 engagement in ministries and all the parastatals; they are the engine room that generates revenue for the nation.
“The National Assembly should please be sincere and realistic before signing the new minimum wage act,” Ajadi pleaded.
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